West Ham United 1-2 Aston Villa (Paqueta 37′ pen | Onana 4′, Duran 79′)
LONDON STADIUM — Not only an orchestrator on the pitch, Amadou Onana had the Aston Villa fans on strings at full-time to cap off his man-of-the-match display with a simple act that spoke volumes.
It was some introduction for the £50m midfielder, who scored within four minutes of his Villa debut in the 2-1 Premier League win at West Ham.
Onana was a standout performer throughout, and was then not shy in coming forward after full-time, showcasing a confident personality that is evident in his play by running up – think Jurgen Klopp and the Kop – to beckon a cheer from Villa’s travelling support. He then did it again, and again, and again.
Onana proceeded to shake hands with the pitch-side Sky Sports team before walking down the tunnel, later returning to talk up his new head coach and the prestige of his new club.
“I couldn’t have had a better manager at this stage of my career. He can bring me to the next stage,” Onana said.
“His football knowledge and IQ is unbelievable. He’s just one of the best in the business for me.
“Absolutely delighted to have scored. I couldn’t have had it any better. The ball was a 12/10, I couldn’t miss it.
“The fans have been unbelievable, I was enjoying myself. I like to be in traditional clubs, I have another one here with big history.”
Amadou Onana is an instant Aston Villa fans' favourite
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 17, 2024pic.twitter.com/acTRrW0Ljh
In the space of two hours, Onana displayed all the hallmarks required to become a quick fan favourite, and this interview with Sky signalled his second smart move – with an assist, most likely, from Aston Villa’s press team – in protecting Jhon Duran from further interrogation.
The cameras were fixated with Duran at full-time. He had, after all, just scored the winner against the very side he has been linked with over the summer, just three weeks after making an Irons gesture on Instagram live, and had thus celebrated in half-apology, half-declaration that he was here to stay and fight for Villa.
Duran had made a “young person’s mistake”, in Unai Emery’s words, but then repaid the faith of his head coach – who stressed the need for his second striker to be patient – by coming up trumps in a match that felt at least a week too soon for the fresh-from-a-holiday, probably-still-needs-another-one Ollie Watkins.
Knowing Duran may well have been the player Sky Sports wanted, Onana was the man they got, and he was quick to praise the player who had openly told Emery he wanted to leave in the hope of playing more elsewhere.
“I think Jhon will be crucial player for us,” Onana added.
“He is very talented. Big, fast and physical and he’s definitely committed to his task here. We’re delighted to have him.”
Emery then reiterated his stance, adding: “We believe in him and his potential.
“We are open to working with him like he did today, helping the team, being available when we need him and today he was fantastic.”
In all, there were positives aplenty for Villa to take home from London Stadium, with their first win on this ground, and first at West Ham since 2011, a strong start to a season where they will reach new heights.
With the Champions League to come, and the draw less than two weeks away, the Premier League may feel like the sideshow, but in truth it is where stability and form can be maintained.
Emery will know that, and he will have loved the sight of his bench on Saturday evening.
Last season ended with three teenagers and two goalkeepers on the bench at Crystal Palace, including Emery’s son, 21-year-old Lander, but it was far stronger at West Ham.
So much so that there was no room for Enzo Barrenechea or Samuel Iling-Junior, nor Alex Moreno, and with Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara on the road to recovery, Villa’s strength in depth is plain to see.
That will be tested over the course of this season, but better to come in prepared than undercooked, and the manner of Saturday’s win will have pleased Emery, with his Villa side a cut above a team they have struggled against in recent years.
“It’s fantastic,” Emery said. “Young players with potential… This is the first step I want to do here: try to be competitive in the squad with the players we have and be ready for a long season in Premier League and Champions League and different cups.”
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