Moussa Diaby and Aston Villa ran wild on Sunday, as Villa Park’s good times kept rolling with a 3-1 win over overpowered Luton Town.
John McGinn and Diaby staked Villa to a 2-0 lead and Diaby then inspired a Tom Lockyer own goal before Emiliano Martinez was debited with an own goal of his own thanks to an errant Ezri Konsa pass back.
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Villa extend their Premier League unbeaten streak to six games with the win over newly-promoted Luton Town, and Unai Emery’s Villans will finish the weekend in fourth or fifth place depending on Man City’s result at Manchester United.
Luton, on the other hand, have just one PL win and five points. The Hatters finish the weekend in 18th place, one point off 17th and four off 15th.
Moussa Diaby and Ollie Watkins are a unicorn duo
Villa’s good, a total team. Douglas Luiz is a borderline elite midfielder, the fullbacks get forward with gusto, and there’s a World Cup winner in goal. And the center backs are thriving even without Tyrone Mings.
But what makes Aston Villa a threat to win every game in every competition is in electric megastar caliber forward Moussa Diaby and the fact that Ollie Watkins joins him as the complete forward setting up the store in a relative unicorn that is a team playing two men up top.
Either Diaby — 3 goals, 3 assists — or Watkins (5+5) has been on the score sheet in all but two matches this season: a win over Everton and a loss to Liverpool. And the dual threat nature of their attack is the primary reason that Villa can easily be a top four team if it figures out how to perform against bigger teams this season. Because the lesser squads aren’t even in the ball park.
What’s next?
Villa heads to Nottingham Forest for another Sunday tilt at 9am ET on Nov. 5, while Luton plays host to Liverpool 2.5 hours later in the day.
Aston Villa vs Luton Town final score: 3-1
Goal: McGinn (17'), Diaby (49'), Lockyer (o.g. 63'), Martinez (o.g. 83')
Aston Villa vs Luton Town player ratings
Aston Villa vs Luton Town player ratings (fotmob.com)
Aston Villa vs Luton Town player ratings (fotmob.com)
Aston Villa own goal: Konsa fools his keeper
Ezri Konsa loops a contested header back toward goal and Emiliano Martinez has to poke it off the bar.
The bar didn’t like that much, sending the ball off the unwitting keeper and over his line for a Martinez own goal. 3-1.
Luton Town own goal: Diaby inspires Lockyer desperation
Moussa Diaby is a blur, again, as he fires toward the end line at Luton’s left post.
His pass is going to be an assist to Ollie Watkins for an easy goal if Tom Lockyer can’t intervene in the six, but that’s a big ask this close to goal and the ball goes into the goal.
Moussa Diaby goal: Instant impact from Leon Bailey
Unai Emery removed Nicolo Zaniolo at the break for Leon Bailey, and the Jamaican international assists Villa’s second goal within minutes of his introduction.
Lucas Digne swings a deep cross from the left side to the back post, where Bailey zips to the end line to nod it central.
Moussa Diaby is there and does not miss with his finish. 2-0.
Aston Villa vs Luton Town halftime analysis: 1-0 to the hosts
Rob Edwards has to be baffled that his team is only down 1-0 at the break.
Villa’s had 77% of the ball, taken 13 shots, and has a 1.64 xG but only John McGinn’s goal is on the board.
Luton? Zero shot attempts. 0.00 xG, 63 completed passes.
John McGinn goal!
It’s been all Villa, and Villa’s been rewarded.
Douglas Luiz is on assist duties for captain John McGinn, who has had more difficult finishes in his day.
Villa vying for third place right now, pending other results of course.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Luton Town live, stream link, time
Kickoff: 10 am ET, Sunday (Oct. 29)
TV channel: Peacock
Online: Watch Premier League on Peacock
Aston Villa lineup
Representing Aston Villa today! 👊 pic.twitter.com/UPp8YZCtiS
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 29, 2023
Luton Town lineup
Your Sunday afternoon Hatters. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/kbatCBnyr7
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) October 29, 2023
Focus on Aston Villa, injury news
OUT: Emiliano Buendia (torn ACL - out for season), Tyrone Mings (torn ACL - out for season), Jacob Ramsey (ankle), Alex Moreno (undisclosed)
Focus on Luton Town, injury news
OUT: Reece Burke (thigh), Dan Potts (undisclosed), Mads Andersen (hamstring), Albert Sambi Lokonga (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Jordan Clark (undisclosed), Amari’i Bell (hamstring)
