Premier League: High Flying Villa Can Feast on the Cherries

Bournemouth vs Aston Villa

Two of the top flight’s in-form sides come face to face on Sunday when Premier League: Bournemouth vs Aston Villa is the entertainment on offer at the Vitality Stadium.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa won away to early pace setters Tottenham Hotspur last week while the Cherries took three points away to Sheffield United. The Villains’ win was their fourth in five and they are now just two points from the summit, while the Cherries have moved away from the danger zone with three wins in four.  

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Ariola was under serious pressure a couple of weeks ago, but it’s amazing what a couple of victories can do, and a game that would have struck fear into the Cherries a month ago is now one that they will believe they can compete in.

I think they will lose, though!

Talking Points

Solanke vs Watkins  

With six goals and seven Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins are their club’s spearheads in attack and both have been in fine form in recent weeks. With pace to burn and clever footwork, there are some similarities between the two, though at 6 feet 2 in, the Bournemouth man is a more powerful figure.

The strikers are both in the prime of their careers; Solanke is 26 years old and Watkins is 27, and they have scored 59 in 173 games and 44 in 172, respectively.

It’s fair to say that Solanke has scored a fair chunk of his goals in the Championship, and Watkins has also made five assists this term, and his England career looks more promising with three goals from nine appearances compared to Solanke’s solitary cap.

Both are great players, but Watkins wins it for me.

Resurgent Cherries have breathing space  

Wins over Burnley, Newcastle United and Sheffield United, punctuated by an EFL Cup exit to Liverpool and a 6-1 thumping at the hands of Manchester City, have lifted the Cherries up to 16^th place and seven clear of the drop zone. They have some breathing space but will not sit comfortably with Everton below them having been docked ten points and Burnley, tipped to ease to a mid table position at the start of the campaign, yet to get going.      

Antoine Semenyo and Luis Sinisterra provide creative support for Solanke, but there is doubt over the fitness of defensive midfielder Philip Billing, and he is a key figure, particularly against a team with an array of attacking talent.

Villa are Champions League material

Emery is making his mark at Villa and the Premier League 2023  betting odds say he’ll pick up another win on the South coast on Sunday. The West Midlands club has had an incredible year under the former Arsenal and Sevilla boss and are now definitely Champions League contenders, sitting in fourth place and two points behind leaders Arsenal.

Villa have now moved in as joint fourth favourites to win the league title, alongside Tottenham and ahead of Newcastle United, Manchester United, and of course, Chelsea.

In 2023, Emery’s team has picked up a staggering 22 victories, the second-most of any club in the competition and Aston Villa’s biggest haul of wins in a calendar year since 1931.

They attack in numbers and at speed, with Douglas Luiz scoring five goals and winger John McGinn contributing three goals and two assists, providing classy support to Watkins.

Centre-back Pau Torres has improved the Villa defence immeasurably, and he scored the opener against Spurs last week, while World Cup winner Emi Martinez has a stopper with bags of character and superb skills capable of producing countless Premier League 2023 highlights.

Villa will be without midfielder Boubacar Kamara for this game after he picked up a fifth yellow card in the win over Tottenham wingback Lucas Digne and Luiz are both one booking away from a ban.      

History

With four wins to three the Cherries have the edge in the head to head Bournemouth vs Aston Villa results though the Villains won the last encounter 3-0  

And with three wins and three losses from the last six games things are looking a whole lot better for the hosts, while Villa have been going through the gears with five wins and a single defeat.

Betting Tip

At SBOTOP odds of 3.11 to win and 3.35 to draw, the Cherries will feel they have every chance to pick up something on Sunday, but look a little closer at their wins, and only against the Blades did they not have to ride their luck.

The hosts have some momentum now, but they picked up just three points from their first nine games, and I have a feeling Villa’s success is more sustainable, and they will keep up the pressure on the league leaders.

 

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