Emi Martinez praised for his brilliance as Aston Villa continues to shines this season

Aston Villa's meteoric rise shows no signs of slowing down as they stormed to a 3-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, propelling them into the Premier League's top four. This latest triumph, their fifth in eight league matches, is a resounding endorsement of Unai Emery's tactical prowess and sets the stage for their upcoming Champions League encounter.

Martinez's match-turning save

The turning point in the match came when Emiliano Martinez pulled off a game-changing penalty save. With the scores level at 1-1, Martinez denied Andreas Pereira from the spot, a moment that echoed his World Cup final heroics and altered the match's trajectory. Unai Emery was visibly impressed, lauding his goalkeeper's performance. He said,

"Emiliano Martinez is the best goalkeeper in the world. Before the penalty, I was sat down on the bench dreaming he would save it... and he did."

Morgan Rogers, who scored Villa's equaliser, echoed this sentiment. "That's why he's the best. That's what he does. If it goes 2-1, anything can happen in the game," Rogers remarked, highlighting the save's significance.

Watkins shines in Villa's dominant display

Ollie Watkins continued his rich vein of form, netting his fifth goal of the campaign with a clinical header. Emery praised the England international's all-round contributions, saying,

"Watkins is being consistent, working tactically and defensively, creating chances. He scored off a corner and we were being consistent to get there and he scored a fantastic goal."

The match unfolded with Raul Jimenez opening the scoring for Fulham, only for Rogers to level with a deflected shot. Watkins then put Villa ahead before an Issa Diop own goal sealed the visitors' victory. The game took a decisive turn when Joachim Andersen received a straight red card for a foul on Watkins, further tilting the odds in Villa's favour.

Champions League and beyond

Attention now shifts to their upcoming Champions League clash with Bologna. The team's strong start to the 2024/25 season, including two victories in their Champions League campaign, has set high expectations for both domestic and European competitions.

With a series of home games on the horizon, including matches against Bologna, Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace, Villa aims to maintain their momentum. Their recent performances, particularly the historic win over Bayern Munich, have positioned them as serious contenders in both the Premier League and Champions League.