Aston Villa predicted line-up vs Bournemouth: Unai Emery risks £50m summer signing and makes a bold call

Aston Villa are absolutely flying in Europe, having won all three of their Champions League games, and in the Premier League, they are still hunting down a top-four finish. It’s incredible when you think about the magnificent job Unai Emery has done there.

This weekend, they face a slippery test against a Bournemouth side that has their tails and chests up after beating Arsenal last weekend. They are also very energised, having had a full week to rest. But as they say these days, most of the top Premier League teams have two squads - one for the cup and another for the league - so you’d expect to see some changes in the team that beat Bologna.

So, ahead of a game that could swing either way, here is the line-up we anticipate Unai Emery will put up:

Goalkeeper and Defenders

One of the success stories of Villa has been Emi Martinez. In the Argentine World Cup winner, they have one of the best goalkeepers in the world. The defence will also likely feature Matty Cash, who has returned from injury and is playing well, along with the impressive Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, and the hardworking Lucas Digne. These are the trusted men for Emery, who has worked out a balance that has kept his team grinding out results.

Midfielders

Amadou Onana is now back after he was withdrawn against Bayern Munich, so expect the £50million summer signing to take his spot in the heart of midfield. He will be flanked on either side by Youri Tielemans and John McGinn. What a captain McGinn has turned out to be—at a time when many rely only on their technique, McGinn combines that with admirable hard work.

Forwards

Ollie Watkins has taken his time, but he’s back among the goals again, and he is the club’s lead striker, so you’d expect him to start—alongside Jacob Ramsey and the relentless Leon Bailey.

Martinez, Cash, Carlos, Torres, Digne, Tielemans, Onana, McGinn; Bailey, Ramsey, Watkins