04 December 2023 , 22:45
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Douglas Luiz has identified Aston Villa's most important player in a massive week for the club – and it's not World Cup winner Emi Martinez.
As Villa approach Amen Corner in their unexpected title challenge, with back-to-back home games against Manchester City and Arsenal, their mercurial Brazilian midfielder hailed 14-goal top scorer Ollie Watkins ' invincible contribution.
If Villa take six points off last season's top two, the phoney war will be over and the rest of the country had better believe it: Unai Emery's side are genuine title contenders. And if Luiz isn't yet shouting the odds from the rooftops after Sunday's 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, he is not whispering them from the cloakroom, saying: “I believe we can stay at the top of the league.”
Watkins' superb last-minute header to rescue a point at the Vitality underlined his value to Villa, and Luiz grinned: “He is so important for us. He's a good guy and he deserves this.
“We’re very happy for him, he’s deserved his moment and he saved us on Sunday. He’s more confident and I think now, at the moment, he is the best player in the squad.
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“He scores goals, makes assists and everyone is so happy for him. I know Emi's saves are so important too, but Ollie is the only one who can score a goal in the last minute, or create one. That is my opinion.”
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Ollie Watkins has been singled out for praise by an Aston Villa team-mateLuiz admitted it's a massive week for Villa, who will break a record going back to 1931 if they manage a 14th consecutive home league win against City on Wednesday night.
He said: “We are so excited for these two games. They are important for us, we are near the top of the table and need to focus this week and try to win both games. We are so confident at home and we believe we can win. We need to train hard because the week is so difficult. But we can win, we can feel that.
“It’s the most difficult game you can play in the league. We need to train hard and try to keep what we are doing at home. I believe so much in the group. We have a good coach, we’re doing a good job at the moment, at home we are so strong - away we need to improve a little bit and then I believe we can stay at the top of the league.
“That means top four, top five. We know it is so difficult and we need to keep going. The truth is Bournemouth was a good point for us. If in the last minute you can score, then we are happy for one point away. We knew it would be difficult to come and take the points. But we’re happy.”
The point on the south coast stretched Villa's unbeaten run to five games and kept them fourth in the Premier League, just three points off leaders Arsenal.
Head coach Emery said: “We have to accept it and continue trying to build a team. We are in our process and now we have 29 points. Now we’re excited to play again on Wednesday at home with our fans, trying to continue being strong like we are."