Everton Held to Goalless Draw as Villa’s Struggles Continue
It was a tense afternoon at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, where Everton and Aston Villa played out a 0-0 draw in front of more than fifty-two thousand fans. The result might look ordinary on paper, but it carried plenty of storylines, especially for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, who are still searching for their first goal and their first win of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
For Villa, the wait goes on. They’ve now become only the fifth team in Premier League history to open a campaign with four consecutive games without scoring. Sitting 19th in the table, the pressure is mounting, and the frustration is visible. Emery’s side worked hard defensively but rarely threatened going forward, leaving supporters with more questions than answers about where the breakthrough will come from.
Everton, on the other hand, will feel they let two points slip away. The Toffees had the chances to take all three, and none bigger than those that fell to Beto. The striker found himself in excellent positions but simply could not apply the finishing touch, spurning two clear opportunities that could have changed the game. That lack of composure in front of goal meant Everton stayed in fifth place instead of climbing level with Arsenal and Liverpool at the top of the table.
Also Read:The spotlight, however, shone brightest on Emiliano Martinez. The Villa goalkeeper returned to the lineup after missing the previous match, which had been clouded by transfer speculation linking him to Manchester United. If fans wondered where his focus was, they got their answer. Martinez produced a commanding display, pulling off key saves to deny both Jack Grealish and Michael Keane. His performance was capped off with a symbolic gesture at full-time, as he lingered on the pitch, tapping the club badge and waving to the Villa supporters. He was deservedly named player of the match.
Jack Grealish, facing his former club, looked lively throughout and was a constant thorn in Villa’s defense. His low strike in the first half forced one of Martinez’s best saves, while his link-up play kept Everton’s attack flowing. Yet despite his creativity, the Toffees couldn’t convert dominance into goals.
Both managers turned to summer signings late in the game, with Merlin Rohl and Harvey Elliott making debuts, but neither could find the spark needed to break the deadlock. Instead, the afternoon ended with Villa clinging to a point through sheer defensive resilience.
So, while Everton may be frustrated at missed chances, the bigger story is Villa’s ongoing drought. Four games in, no goals scored, no victories earned—it’s a tough place to be. Emery will know that patience is wearing thin, and unless his side finds some attacking rhythm soon, this early-season slump could spiral into something more serious.
For now, it’s Everton left to rue what might have been, and Villa left to wonder when their season will truly begin.
Read More:
0 Comments