Unai Emery says his Aston Villa side have to show “big ambition” and push for a European place after they cruised past struggling Bournemouth at Villa Park.
Douglas Luiz was picked out by Leon Bailey and swept home from close range early on, before Jacob Ramsey jinked past Jack Stephens to make sure of three points. Villa added a third when Emi Buendia headed in from a yard out after Tyrone Mings flicked on Luiz’s corner to seal the hosts’ third win in four Premier League games.
Villa stay 11th but move to within four points of sixth, while Bournemouth remain in the bottom three after being brought back down to earth following their win over Liverpool last weekend.
“After the matches we lost to Arsenal and Leicester, the reaction has been fantastic. Today is maybe the best 90 minutes we played here since I arrived,” Emery told BBC Match of the Day.
“We controlled the game with the ball. We conceded some chances to them, but I think it is normal because they are in a good moment. I’m happy today and I want to share it with the players and supporters.
“We have to rest a little bit but now we have a big challenge because we are slowly going up. We are looking up. It’s important to have big ambitions and face big challenges. We have Chelsea in two weeks and we have to try and be consistent.
“Next step is top 10, but if we are ambitious you want to get to something more and look at the teams in the European positions. Of course it is not in our hands to take a European place, but we have to try. We have to take this new challenge.”
Villa were on top from the start and, after Luiz put them in front, they had numerous chances to extend the lead. Ollie Watkins had the best of the opportunities when he was put through by Buendia, only for his dinked effort to be kept out by Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto.
The hosts might also have had a penalty six minutes before the break when Ramsey’s goalbound shot was deflected over the bar by the hand of Stephens, but the video assistant referee turned down Villa’s appeals.
Bournemouth’s limited threat came through the pace of their front three. However, Dominic Solanke, now without a goal in 10 league matches, lacked conviction when clean through and his hesitation allowed Mings to get back and make the block.
Defeat left Gary O’Neil’s side a point from safety, but there was a major highlight as David Brooks came on to make his first appearance since being diagnosed with cancer in 2021 — 534 days since his last game.
