And it’s hi-ho Aston Villa. Well, up to fifth place anyway, projected by a classy, clever and comprehensive victory over West Ham. Not that fifth should be the limit of their ambition. Led by Ollie Watkins in sizzling form, this looks a side equipped to make a proper dent in the Premier League status quo.
Things began with a memorial for Sir Bobby Charlton. During a minute’s applause, West Ham fans sparked a chant of “only one Bobby Charlton”, which was taken up round the stadium. It demonstrated the universal respect the great man engendered that he could get the followers of two teams he never played for to unite in wholehearted remembrance.
And Villa in particular took the hint, trying to play as Charlton would have appreciated: with pace, intelligence and no little panache; John McGinn paying immediate homage with a sizzling long range shot. Though unlike Charlton, he missed.
Almost from kick off the effectiveness of the manager Unai Emery’s work on the training ground was everywhere in evidence. The intriguing corner routines, the unexpected freekicks, the swift interchanges: this was Emery-ball in full flow. Not least up front, where the relationship between Watkins and Mousa Diaby is clearly growing through the familiarity of practice. Before this match, they had created 14 chances for each other in the Premier League this season, four better than any other strike partnership. And, soon into the game, Watkins had a superb chance to make it 15 when he took a smart ball from Diaby, turned but pushed his shot wide.
Behind the sizzling front pair, Nicolo Zaniolo has evidently been brought in by Emery to add spontaneity to the choreography. He is currently under investigation by the Italian football authorities for betting irregularities and here he was in a game in which both teams carried bookies’ logos on their shirts. Football is now in the ridiculous position of indicting its employees for using the services of the companies whose money they are happy to take in return for visible endorsement.
And, given the way he patrolled midfield, it would have been hard to bet against Zaniolo being involved in the opening goal. Tall and elegant, he appeared to be lingering on the edge of the area, then, a sudden switch of speed took him down towards the byline. Expecting a cross the West Ham players followed him, but he cut the ball back to the ever eager Watkins, who side footed to Douglas Luiz on the edge of the area; his shot was two good for Alphonse Areola.
West Ham, however, were not to be daunted. As their followers constantly reminded the home support, they are champions of Europe, after all. Full of crisp, one-touch passing, they sped forward at every opportunity. When Ezri Konsa handled on the edge of the Villa area, James Ward Prowse eyed up the chance with relish. But his shot was cleared by the Villa wall. And in the resulting melee, Lucas Paqueta attempted what might well turn out to be the least effective bicycle kick of the season.
Though it was not an error as critical as his woeful backpass that led to Villa’s second. Receiving the ball in safety on the byline, he played it back into the area only vaguely in the direction of Edson Alvarez. Konsa chased after the loose ball and Alvarez brought him down. Luiz got his second from the spot. No doubt Emery has him practising penalties in training.
West Ham are not ones to give up. They tried to force the issue, pouring quickly forward at every opportunity. And adding to home nerves by scoring when Jared Bowen’s shot took a hefty deflection off Pau Torres on its way past Emi Martinez.
But any thought of a comeback was soon dismissed. And it was no surprise that Watkins, who had been so keen, so determined, so full of running throughout, was responsible. He chased down McGinn’s through ball, did a couple of stepovers to confuse Kurt Zouma, then smashed the ball in the net.
“It’s definitely a mindset with me. The gaffer has always had faith in me here. I’ve always beaten myself up a little bit or get onto myself if I haven’t scored,” he explained afterwards. “I missed that chance earlier in the game but I didn’t let it get on top of me. Earlier in my career I probably would have kept thinking about that.”
A fourth goal rubbed things in when the two substitutes Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey combined, to allow Bailey to score with an aplomb that almost matched Watkins. Sir Bobby would have smiled at that finish.
