{"id":77615,"date":"2025-09-17T16:21:55","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T06:21:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=77615"},"modified":"2025-09-17T16:21:58","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T06:21:58","slug":"have-the-wheels-fallen-off-at-aston-villa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2025\/09\/have-the-wheels-fallen-off-at-aston-villa\/","title":{"rendered":"Have The Wheels Fallen Off At Aston Villa?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Four games into the 2026\/26 Premier League season, and Aston Villa don\u2019t have a goal to their name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two points, zero goals, 19<sup>th<\/sup> place\u2026 Unai, what\u2019s going on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While we\u2019re only four games in, and they\u2019re not doomed just yet, but this certainly is a harrowing start for the Villains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After qualifying for a place in Europe for the third consecutive season, only missing out on a place in the UEFA Champions League on goal difference last season, Aston Villa have a mountain to climb if they want to remain on that stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udd3b Aston Villa have NOT won a game so far this season\u2026 <br><br>\u2696\ufe0f 0-0 draw vs Newcastle<br>\u274c 1-0 loss vs Brentford<br>\u274c 3-0 loss vs Crystal Palace<br>\u2696\ufe0f 0-0 draw vs Everton<br>\u274c 4-2 loss on penalties to Brentford<br><br>Next 3 matches: Sunderland (A), Bologna (H), Fulham (H). <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Eymtk5umOw\">pic.twitter.com\/Eymtk5umOw<\/a><\/p>&mdash; EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/eurofootcom\/status\/1968059760231829936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 16, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Before Harvey Elliott\u2019s EFL Cup goal against Brentford midweek, Aston Villa were the only team in England\u2019s top seven divisions yet to score a goal in the 2025\/26 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The season started with a goalless draw against Newcastle United at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It wasn\u2019t a result to concern Villa fans, given they had been dropped down to ten men shortly after the hour mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A dominant but unsuccessful 1-0 defeat on the road against Brentford handed The Bees their only win of the season so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With 74% possession and 19 shots, Villa couldn\u2019t find the back of the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their shock 3-0 defeat at home against Crystal Palace further highlighted their misfortune, with the Villains comfortably dominating every metric, but failing to find the back of the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And now another goalless draw against Jack Grealish\u2019s in form Everton, which saw Aston Villa preserve their cleansheet despite facing 20 shots from the hosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Aston Villa are still the ONLY team in England&#39;s top seven divisions not to score in 2025\/26, following a 0-0 draw with Everton \ud83d\ude2c\u274c <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/99to4gsSXx\">pic.twitter.com\/99to4gsSXx<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SkySportsPL\/status\/1966895245154807815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 13, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There is nothing in these performances that suggests Aston Villa are in any serious danger, and Unai Emery\u2019s job is no doubt still safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, their inability so far to find the back of the next is certainly cause for concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Villa become the fifth side in Premier League history not to score in the opening four league games, joining the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United, Swansea City, and Crystal Palace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s been almost three years since Unai Emery took over from Steven Gerrard, with last year&#8217;s UCL quarter-final clash against PSG demonstrating the immense potential of his Aston Villa project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite his transformation of the club, he has now guided them to their worst start to a league campaign since 1997\/98.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u25c9 Sheffield Wednesday (1993-94)<br>\u25c9 Newcastle (2005-06)<br>\u25c9 Swansea (2011-12)<br>\u25c9 Crystal Palace (2017-18)<br>\u25c9 Aston Villa (2025-26) \ud83c\udd95<br><br>Aston Villa become the fifth team to have failed to score in their first four Premier League games of a season \ud83d\ude33<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AVFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AVFC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/b4xQ96xECs\">pic.twitter.com\/b4xQ96xECs<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Aston Villa Statto (@AVFCStatto) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AVFCStatto\/status\/1966893767455371518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 13, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Their transfer market performance did little to flex Unai\u2019s ambition, with Jacob Ramsey\u2019s departure leaving a void to fill in the Aston Villa midfield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While they managed to hold onto Emi Martinez amidst interest from Manchester United, their new signings came from opposition benchwarmers and wantaways, and not the marquee players fans would expect from a club looking to once again contest for a Champions League place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harvey Elliott joined as a free transfer from Liverpool, while the polarising Jadon Sancho signed on loan after Manchester United did everything possible to rid him from their roster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Victor Lindelof signed as a free agent, and Evann Guessand signed from OGC Nice after scoring 13 goals last season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Unai Emery shares his thoughts as Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho start for Aston Villa against Brentford \ud83d\udcad <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zSvPiqrdwG\">pic.twitter.com\/zSvPiqrdwG<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SkyFootball\/status\/1968024356354654579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 16, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Their most recent result saw them knocked out of the EFL Cup in the Third Round by Brentford, who defeated them 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Gtech Community Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The result, while frustrating, saw them score their first goal of the 2025\/26 season through Harvey Elliott.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While that doesn\u2019t help their Premier League form, the Villains will look ahead to their weekend clash against newly promoted Sunderland as an important opportunity to win points and score goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But given Sunderland have hit the ground running with only one defeat in four games, Unai Emery will need to find answers before those \u2018007\u2019 jokes start getting too real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8 Aston Villa FC ended their long wait for a first goal of the season v Brentford FC thanks for Harvey Elliott&#39;s first goal for the club.<br><br>But it ultimately counted for nothing as they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on penalties&#8230;\ud83d\ude2c <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/f6IBufmYBX\">pic.twitter.com\/f6IBufmYBX<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Football Insider (@footyinsider247) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/footyinsider247\/status\/1968110151052775596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 17, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Even with this string of results, Aston Villa have been dealt a number of tough, early blows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They started their campaign with Andres Garcia and Ross Barkley ruled out through injury, before Emiliano Buendia was forced off injured in their 1-0 defeat against Brentford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara both suffered hamstring injuries, ruling them out, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a stable run of fixtures in the Premier League consisting of Sunderland, Fulham, and Burnley, it\u2019s more important than ever for Villa to find their form before they face the likes of Tottenham, Manchester City, and Liverpool in consecutive games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They will also commence their Europa League campaign next week, facing Bologna at home, before travelling to the Netherlands to face Feyenoord and Go Ahead Eagles in October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The 2025\/26 Europa League league phase calendar \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HDaRs86uLF\">pic.twitter.com\/HDaRs86uLF<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AVFCOfficial\/status\/1961854074782917100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 30, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The wheels haven\u2019t fallen off yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe they\u2019ve commenced the season with a dead battery and a flat tyre, but there\u2019s no reason to panic, and if they can get back on the road as soon as possible, there is plenty to salvage from this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the longer it takes to jump-start their season, the more cars will pass them by, and their European hopes may quickly fade like a mirage on a long, straight road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Four games into the 2026\/26 Premier League season, and Aston Villa don\u2019t have a goal to their name. Two points, zero goals, 19th place\u2026 Unai, what\u2019s going on? While we\u2019re only four games in, and they\u2019re not doomed just yet, but this certainly is a harrowing start for the Villains. After qualifying for a place in Europe for the third consecutive season, only missing out on a place in the UEFA Champions League on goal difference last season, Aston Villa have a mountain to climb if they want to remain on that stage. \ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udd3b Aston Villa have NOT won a&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":77616,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9440,8,598,344],"tags":[173],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-77615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football-unpopular-opinions","category-soccer","category-special-interest","category-sports","tag-football"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":"","md_tip_date_end":"","md_market_url":"","tip_date":"17\/09\/2025","event_country":"Australia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/52"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77615"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77615\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77615"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=77615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}