Aston Villa’s struggles in recent weeks have been well-documented, and Paul Merson has highlighted a statistic that he believes sums up the Villans’ woes.
Unai Emery’s side have not won a game in all competitions for over a month, and their recent form has seen them slide down the Premier League table. They currently sit ninth, but their performances have been a far cry from those that earned them a top-seven finish last season.
Merson, a former Arsenal midfielder and now a Sky Sports pundit, has pinpointed one statistic that he believes is “madness”. Aston Villa have not kept a clean sheet in their last 11 Premier League games, a run that stretches back to the start of the season.
“That’s madness,” Merson exclaimed. “You can’t keep conceding goals and expect to win games. Villa need to tighten up at the back if they’re going to get back to winning ways.”
Aston Villa’s defensive frailties will be put to the test on Saturday when they host Crystal Palace at Villa Park. The Eagles have struggled for form this season, but they did manage to knock Villa out of the Carabao Cup last month.
Oliver Glasner’s side will be looking to build on that victory, and Villa will need to be at their best to avoid another disappointing result. With their defensive record a major concern, Emery will be hoping that his side can finally keep a clean sheet and get back to winning ways.
The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, and it promises to be a crucial encounter for both sides. Will Aston Villa be able to address their defensive issues and get back to winning ways, or will Crystal Palace heap more misery on the Villans?
One thing is certain, however: Aston Villa’s players will need to be at their best if they’re to get a result against Crystal Palace. The Eagles may be struggling in the league, but they have a talented squad and will be looking to cause an upset at Villa Park.
Aston Villa’s fans will be hoping that their side can finally turn a corner and get back to winning ways. The Villans have a proud tradition of competing at the top level, and their supporters will be expecting a much-improved performance against Crystal Palace.
In terms of team news, Aston Villa will be without the injured Bertrand Traoré, while Crystal Palace will be missing the suspended Jordan Ayew. Both sides will be looking to make the most of their available players, however, and the match promises to be a closely contested encounter.
