By the time the final whistle blew, Aston Villa had little to celebrate following their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday. In reality, it was a match that could have ended in victory, and manager Unai Emery might have been enjoying the three points had it not been for his team’s inability to maintain control. A dramatic equaliser from Bournemouth in the 96th minute overshadowed Villa’s efforts and left them with a disappointing outcome.
This season, Aston Villa has struggled at home, except for their Champions League outings. However, Saturday’s match painted a different picture, particularly during the first 30 minutes, which showcased the type of performance that the team had been aiming for. Unfortunately, they were unable to convert their dominance into goals until late in the second half when substitute Ross Barkley finally broke the deadlock.
Barkley has been described as playing the “best football of his career” since joining Aston Villa. After Douglas Luiz’s departure to Juventus, Emery focused on strengthening the midfield. He brought in Youri Tielemans to replicate Luiz’s exceptional dead-ball skills, Amadou Onana to enhance the defensive midfield presence, and Barkley to provide composure and ball retention under pressure. Although Barkley has only been named in the starting lineup for one Premier League match, his impact off the bench has been significant.
Former player Martin Keown praised Barkley’s resurgence, noting how he has harnessed his considerable talent at Villa. In an interview with BBC Sport, Keown remarked, “Ross Barkley has come on at half-time, we know he has fantastic ability and he is playing some of the best football of his career. The ball is falling for him as he strikes it, and he reacts quickly. They needed a bit of luck to beat Mark Travers, but the pace of the ball carried it into the back of the net.”
In recent transfer windows, Premier League clubs have invested heavily in midfielders, yet Villa secured Barkley’s services from relegated Luton for a relatively modest fee. This decision is proving to be a smart and strategic acquisition, especially considering the limited interest from other clubs. While Barkley has only started one Premier League game and one EFL Cup match, his contributions remain impactful.
According to WhoScored, Barkley has been rated with an average performance score of 6.43, accumulating two goal involvements over 243 minutes of play. His ability to influence games, even as a substitute, underscores his value to the team as they look to regain form and secure vital points in their league campaign.