Unai Emery hailed Ollie Watkins as top-of-the-line strikers in Europe after his double helped Aston Villa to a dramatic 3-2 win over Luton at Kenilworth Road.
A header within the 89th minute from substitute Lucas Digne ensured Villa gained for the third recreation in a row within the Premier League to remain 5 factors away from Tottenham within the race for Champions League qualification.
Emery’s facet had been comfortably on prime within the first half and went in on the break with a commanding two-goal lead given to them by Watkins’ brace.
Luton struck again, seemingly re-energised by the looming prospect of a fourth straight league defeat, with objectives from Tahith Chong and Carlton Morris, however Digne’s late intervention settled the competition in Villa’s favour.
However, it was the contribution of Watkins that was singled out by Emery.
“Fantastic, brilliant,” he stated of his workforce’s prime scorer, who now has 21 for the season.
“He’s an example for other gamers. Every day working laborious, day-after-day making an attempt to study extra.
“His mentality, to extend his degree, practising and practising on the coaching floor. His dedication to work within the tactical areas we’re planning each match.
“He’s scoring, he’s getting probabilities, he’s helping, defending set-pieces. He has been obtainable to play 90 minutes kind of, retaining match to play so much. He’s unbelievable.
“But he wants his team-mates as properly to assist him. We are a workforce. We should attempt to get our performances via the workforce. With the dedication he’s displaying, for everybody he’s an example.
“For mentality, it’s tough to discover a participant higher than him. But his ability can also be a excessive degree.
“He wants to learn every day, to increase his level. Of course, his first objective is scoring goals, but then as well, tactically, his work has been fantastic. Understanding, being clever.”
Asked if Watkins was top-of-the-line in Europe, Emery stated: “Yes, in fact, he’s displaying. The Premier League is the hardest league perhaps on the planet.
“But as a person he’s humble. He avoids the ego changing him. He’s fantastic as a person and as a professional.”
Luton boss Edwards, whose workforce are 4 factors adrift of security with 12 video games to play, mirrored on a consequence he discovered tough to take.
“Bitterly disappointed,” he stated. “The objectives had been avoidable, all three of them, as they at all times are.
“There was a lot to love concerning the efficiency. Villa are so organised and workforce and it isn’t simple to attain objectives towards them. They can hit you laborious with counter-attacks or management the sport.
“They are a very good team, but I thought we dominated the second half and had an outstanding performance.”
Discussion about this post