Unai Emery says Donyell Malen is available to make his Aston Villa debut against Arsenal.
Malen sealed a move to Villa Park earlier this week for £21m and has been training with his new team-mates this week.
The versatile Dutch forward, who can operate in all three positions behind the striker, provides Emery’s men with an extra boost in attack as they continue to challenge in the Premier League and Champions League.
Emery said: “He usually plays as a number seven and sometimes as a number 11 on the left side, but he can also play as a number ten.
“In the attacking third, he is always close to getting into the opponent’s area to score and get an assist. We will need a player like him who tries to threaten the opposition at the back.”
The villa turns
Villa ended a run of five successive away defeats with a 1-0 win over Everton on Wednesday thanks to Ollie Watkins’ winner at Goodison Park, and have also started the year on a three-match winning streak.
Emery added: “We can feel a bit confident after the win at Everton, but the challenge tomorrow is to be competitive. Through competitiveness, we can be close to getting a good result.
“Arsenal tomorrow will be very, very difficult. Every match we face is very, very difficult – and at Everton.
“We are preparing for the match, we are very motivated and we will try to play, improving the things we did at Everton and improving things we did away from home in the last matches against top teams in the Premier League.
“Tomorrow we play one of the candidates and favorites to win the Premier League.”
Unai Emery: “We can feel a bit confident after the win at Everton, but the challenge tomorrow is again to try to be competitive. Through competitiveness, we can be close to getting a good result.” pic.twitter.com/uwdGUgXMWv
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 17, 2025
Emirates is back
Emery returns to the Emirates on Saturday for the first time since the former Arsenal manager’s side ended the Gunners’ title hopes with a 2-0 win last April.
“It’s different circumstances (with Villa’s win against Arsenal last season). That moment was a very special moment for them and for us because they were very involved in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and we were in the Conference League.
“We fought really well at that time in 90 minutes and we won, but it was very difficult. This year the conditions are different. There are not many things similar to last year, it will be different and we have to try to play, competing with the idea we have.
“We have to build the team as we are doing and try to get confidence and good feelings. Individual players have to be confident and that’s the match we have tomorrow.”
Villa injury news
Updated on the Villa injury news, Emery said: “Pau Torres is out and unavailable, John McGinn is training on the pitch but not (ready for) tomorrow.
“Ross Barkley is still out. Diego Carlos on the medical report is not feeling well and I think he will not be (involved) tomorrow.”
