Unai Emery says Donyell Malen is available to make his debut for Aston Villa against Arsenal.
Malen moved to Villa Park earlier this week for an estimated £21m and has been training with his new team-mates this week.
The versatile Dutch forward, who can operate in all three positions behind the striker, gives Emery’s men an added boost in attack as they continue to challenge in the Premier League and Champions League.
Emery said: “He usually plays as a number seven and sometimes as a number 11 on the left, while he can also play as a number ten.
“In the attacking third, he is always close to entering the opponent’s box to score a goal and get an assist. We will need a player like him who tries to threaten the opposition from behind.”
The villa turns the corner
Villa ended a run of five consecutive away defeats with a 1-0 win over Everton on Wednesday thanks to Ollie Watkins’ winner at Goodison Park, while they also started the year with three straight wins.
Emery added: “We can feel a bit of confidence after we won at Everton, but the challenge tomorrow is to be competitive. Because we are competitive, we can be close to a good result.
“Arsenal will be very, very difficult tomorrow. Every game we face is very, very difficult – and at Everton too.
“We are preparing for the game, we are very motivated and we will try to play, improving the things we did at Everton and improving the things we did away from home in the last games against the best teams in the Premier League.
“Tomorrow we play with one of the candidates and favorites to win the Premier League.”
Unai Emery: “We can feel a bit of confidence after we won at Everton, but the challenge tomorrow is to try to be competitive again. Because we are competitive, we can be close to a good result.” pic.twitter.com/uwdGUgXMWv
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 17, 2025
The Emirates are back
Emery returns to the Emirates on Saturday for the first time since the former Arsenal manager’s side ended the Gunners’ title hopes with a 2-0 win in April last year.
“These are different circumstances [to Villa’s win against Arsenal last season]. That moment was a very special circumstance for them and for us because they were very engaged in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and we were also in the Conference League.
“We competed well at that point in the 90 minutes and we won, but it was very difficult. This year the circumstances are different. There is not much similar to last year, it will be different and we have to try to play, competing with the idea we have.
“We have to build the team as we are doing and try to get confidence and good feelings. Some players have to have confidence, and this is the game we have tomorrow.”
News about Villa’s injuries
Updating Villa’s injury news, Emery said: “Pau Torres is out of the machine and unavailable, John McGinn is training on the pitch but not [ready for] tomorrow.
“Ross Barkley is still out there. Diego Carlos is not feeling well in the medical report and I don’t think he will feel well [involved] tomorrow.”
