Excerpt from the interview with Ross Barkley. @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Harvey Elliott - what is happening and what's next? The views from #AVFC and Liverpool: Piece @theathleticfc.bsky.social w/ @greggevans40.bsky.social and @jamespearcelfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

Exclusive interview with Ross Barkley: ▪️Becoming teetotal ▪️Therapy ▪️A challenging upbringing ▪️Mental pressures and criticism ▪️Leaving Everton, Chelsea and frustrations ▪️Unai Emery’s “No bull***t” ➕More @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Exclusive interview with Ross Barkley: ▪️Becoming teetotal ▪️Therapy ▪️A challenging upbringing ▪️Mental pressures and criticism ▪️Leaving Everton, Chelsea and frustrations ▪️Unai Emery’s “No bull***t” ➕More @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Morgan Rogers is the latest #AVFC to sign a new contract. As reported in July, Villa outlined intentions to offer another contract to elevate him among the highest earners in the squad. 12 month extension so new deal runs until 2031.

When #AVFC needed leaders and clarity at the start of this season, John McGinn offered both. He has spoken about players writing their names in club folklore, which, in his case, has surely been achieved. He is a modern-day Villa legend. @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

Emery will know there are things to improve (the underlying numbers haven’t been great & usually do start to tell at some point) but beating Spurs, City & Bournemouth represents an exceptional transformation. The squad was flat in September - there is undeniable belief now #AVFC

Andoni Iraola: "(In the first half) they were much better than us, much more aggressive, they were pressing us very well. For me, they scored three set play goals, but it was not a case of ‘they scored three set piece and nothing else.’ They were better than us." #AVFC

FT: #AVFC 4-0 Bournemouth Most complete display in some time.Not just because it was emphatic (biggest win since Sheff Utd in Feb 2024) but because of how the approach worked. Nullified Bournemouth's chaos & turned them ragged,showing their intelligence.Immense effort physically

Two goals outside the box, then two clever corner routines. This one is pulled back for Tielemans who shoots, but Malen gets a touch to deflect the ball the other way and past Petrovic. Watkins probably hoping that would've fallen to him. Anyway, it's 4-0 & a big result

GOALL TIELEMANS 4-0 #AVFC

Malen and Bogarde replace Kamara and Watkins. #AVFC

Digne's corner is whipped towards the near post and Barkley gets a glancing touch on it. 3-0. Very few teams do this to Bournemouth. A huge performance. #AVFC

Barkley, Tielemans and Sancho on for McGinn, Buendia and Onana. #AVFC

Emiliano Martinez, the hero, the villain. One week he's passing the ball to Salah, the next he pulls off a remarkably acrobatic save and then a penalty save. Villa Park bellows 'the world's number 1'. #AVFC

Don't want to tempt fate, but Matty Cash's defending this season has been among the best in the league. More commanding, timing his tackles and really aggressive on the winger, regardless of who it is. Quite telling that Iraola wanted Semenyo against Digne initially. #AVFC

Incredible save from Martinez to tip a deflected effort over the crossbar. Exceptional actually. Notice how many #AVFC players get back to try and stop the breakaway. At one point ,seven players are chasing back with just Kluivert. That's the desire Emery will love

Emery trying to use Iraola's man marking to his disadvantage. #AVFC's attackers making unfamiliar movements, which means their markers have to track them. Buendia is making Semenyo go into midfield, Senesi to left, Truffert into midfield etc. No surprise there are lots of fouls

HT: #AVFC 2-0 Bournemouth Villa have played, as Emery says, "very mature." Not got involved in the intended chaos of the visitors, crucially won their direct duels and matched, if not bettered, their work-rate. Rogers & Watkins positioning in either channel has given an out-ball

Shouldn't be lost how big an effort #AVFC put in that 1st half. Out-worked, out-hustled one of the most, if not the most, energetic sides in the league. Buendia's fitness, from now to even four months ago,is extraordinary. Emery always wants control but this has been very dynamic

Listen, who currently minds that #AVFC's xG is the lowest in the league, when you're last five goals have come from outside the box and been crackers.

#AVFC have been brilliant since the first goal. Playing Bournemouth at their own game. Winning the ball back high and winning 50/50s. Another turnover of the ball high and after great work from Rogers, he pulls the ball back for Onana to shoot low and outside the box. 2-0

Two minutes that sum it up. A Bournemouth free kick outside the box blazed over after they turned over the ball high. Then a #AVFC FK outside the box, as a result of Cash's restart. It's a beautiful, lifted free-kick from Buendia, over the wall and leaves Petrovic stranded. 1-0

Bournemouth free kick outside the box. Scott brought down. Comes from Onana trying to turn but getting pickpocketed. That pass into him from Pau is risky - Bournemouth want you to play inside. So too is Onana turnining blindly. #AVFC have to play wide, not pass into those areas

Emery wants Rogers to start in the No 10 but make run downs the right side (like Malen would), to avoid Senesi from just following him and jumping on him everywhere. McGinn, at the same time, moves in off the right and central. #AVFC

The ball has barely been in play due to injuries, set plays etc but this has started how you'd expect. Balls into channels, long passes, fouls and very rushed. #AVFC's backline needs to be wary of Evanilson's runs into either channel, as Bournemouth are finding him regularly.

A long delay after Smith and Adams collide. Smith has blood pouring from one side but protested as he was desperate to stay on, but won't be able to. Intrigued to see how #AVFC deal with a man-to-man press - they have to find a way to get the ball into Buendia & Rogers

Bournemouth will do what Liverpool initially did and are, instantly. Adams and Scott locking onto Kamara and Onana, leaving Rogers spare (Senesi will step on him). As you saw last week, if #AVFC can play through, Watkins has lots of space to run into

The longer this goes on, the more likely a decision will be made in January. Harvey Elliott left out of the squad - he's well down Emery's pecking order, who he & #AVFC say accounts for the lack of minutes. But it's becoming very frustrating for Elliott: www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

#AVFC XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Kamara, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins Six changes from Maccabi win - Cash, Kamara, McGinn, Buendia and Watkins in. No Harvey Elliott on the bench

A big game for #AVFC. A direct competitor and a stylistic clash, usually entertaining, between the Basque managers. Villa have improved league performances but lack of goals and xG (lowest in the league, partly due to Wolves & Burnley playing one more game) needs to be addressed

Emery on Watkins: "I told him yesterday, ‘I am so, so happy with you. You're our striker, you've been consistent all your career, when I arrived you showed your capacity to be resilient. Now, I know you are going to recover & get your performance through being consistent.'" #AVFC

Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv: The inside story of a night of tension, protest and, chronologically, how the events played out. Report on @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...

WMP confirm they have arrested eleven people involved in protests before #AVFC's match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Five offences were racially aggravated. Story @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Unai Emery: "First captain is John McGinn. We decided the next captain. Usually we have another captain, Emiliano Martinez, who was second captain. But speaking to him, I prefer to get him back. Konsa is the next one (after McGinn), with Tyrone Mings and Watkins." #AVFC

FT: #AVFC 2-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv The match was in contrast to outside the stadium and the days and weeks before. Felt all the energy was taken out of the actual game. A forgettable affair, but Villa are back to winning ways in Europe and closer to qualifying in the top eight.

Harvey Elliott, in his tracksuit and with five subs all used, goes down the tunnel a few minutes left. He applauds the fans nearby, probably readying himself for some all too familiar post-match runs. #AVFC

John McGinn comes on to play his 300th game for #AVFC, moving into the top 15 (joint with Vic Crowe) for overall appearances. What a man and player. "If it takes me until I’m 37, 38, or even 40, I’m just so determined for that (a trophy) to happen." www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...

It obviously hasn't been a usual Villa match tonight, as evidenced by the fact that they have actually scored a penalty. Watkins and Kamara are coming on, replacing Rogers and Pau. #AVFC

GOAL Malen scores from the spot. 2-0 #AVFC

Oh my, #AVFC have a penalty. Villa have scored one of their last four. Malen to take...

HT: #AVFC 1-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv Strange atmosphere, strange (boring) game.

GOAL MAATSEN 1-0 Thankfully. #AVFC

Understandably a strange atmosphere, given all the attention has been on what is happening outside the stadium. It is subdued. #AVFC could do with an early goal

Police have arrested six people involved in protests ahead of the Europa League tie between #AVFC and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Three people were arrested for racially aggravated public order offences. Story @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Ezri Konsa leads #AVFC out. Without Mings or McGinn, he's the third leader. Has been brilliant this season and many believe he has grown in presence and leadership. Villa Park is smoky because of the fireworks and the ground has started to fill up.

Ross Barkley is named on the bench this evening, despite not being included in the initial squad. This is because he has replaced the injured Tyrone Mings. UEFA rules state a club may temporarily replace a maximum of one outfield player and register a new outfield player. #AVFC

#AVFC XI: Martinez; Lindelof, Konsa, Pau, Maatsen; Bogarde, Onana; Guessand, Rogers, Sancho; Malen Five changes from Liverpool defeat. Lindelof, Maatsen, Bogarde, Sancho & Malen come in. Tielemans is fit and returns to the squad.

Genuinely a huge police presence this evening as some of the protests are due to start in an hour or so. As WMP stated, extra security checks before you get onto Villa Park premises. #AVFC

Some local schools are closing early today, “following advice from the local authority regarding possible congestion and local disruption." Report on @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...