Analysis: Aston Villa show more fighting qualities with top four back in their hands

For the second time this season Zaniolo came off the bench to salvage a point for Unai Emery’s team and while yesterday’s equaliser at West Ham wasn’t quite so dramatic as the one he scored deep into stoppage time against Sheffield United in December, it felt that bit more valuable on a weekend which delivered a reminder the race for the Premier League top four still has a long way left to run.

Humbled at home by Tottenham seven days previously, Villa head into the international break with destiny back in their own hands having battled back to draw in east London, while their rivals had thrown in a clanger of their own over the other side of the capital less than 24 hours previously.

Spurs losing 3-0 at Fulham had already taken a little of the pressure off Emery’s men but while, for the first time this season, they were unable to follow up a league defeat by winning the next match, the mood feels markedly different to how it did a week ago, with them still sitting fourth in the table with a cushion up by a point from two to three.

With a little more precision, after Zaniolo had brought them level by cancelling out Michail Antonio’s opener with 11 minutes remaining, the outlook might have been even better.

Then again, Villa were grateful to VAR for bailing them out twice, Antonio and Tomas Soucek both helping the ball into the net with their arms, the latter effort deep in stoppage time only ruled out following a check which lasted more than five minutes.

With skipper John McGinn missing the first of three matches through suspension, this was the moment Villa needed those lesser celebrated members of the supporting cast to step up and Zaniolo duly obliged, scoring just his third goal since arriving on a season-long loan from Galatasaray last August and only second in the league. Both have been important.

The 24-year-old, in fairness, had shown flashes of form during a substitute cameo the previous weekend against Spurs, though it did not prevent him receiving social media criticism and his celebration when scoring here, putting his finger to his lips in front of the jubilant travelling support, suggested such messages had registered.

Happily, for Emery and Villa, he appears determined to take out his frustrations by proving the doubters wrong. The only concern is he sometimes risks trying too hard, a tussle with Lucas Paqueta shortly after his goal bringing an 11th booking of the season in all competitions. When Zaniolo then threw the ball away in stoppage time, he was maybe a little fortunate not to see his first red.

Other than that moment, Villa generally held their nerve, even if their admirable attempts to win the match almost saw them lose it, Matty Cash making the most important block of the season when he threw himself in front of James Ward-Prowse’s drive.

Cash was another player brought off the bench who made a telling impact. So too did Moussa Diaby, the France international following up Thursday’s showing against Ajax with another impressive, aggressive display. It was he who latched on to Youri Tielemans’ perfectly-weighted pass before pulling back for Zaniolo to stab the ball past Alphonse Areola, the second time in as many away matches two substitutes had combined for a crucial goal, after Diaby’s cross for Lucas Digne’s winner at Luton. Only Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle have more goal contributions from substitutes than Villa this season.

The counter argument on that front, for the second week running, was whether Emery got his team selection right from the start? Having been accused of being too defensive against Tottenham, the Spaniard named an XI which suggested all-out attack at West Ham, Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers handed first Premier League starts.

Yet in reality it did not prove that way during a first half in which Villa struggled for rhythm with their two most creative forces, Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins, pushed to the periphery. The one occasion they did combine, it saw the latter force a sharp save from Areola at his near post.

Emery, to his credit, wasted little time ripping up the gameplan at the break, with Antonio having taken advantage of some rather passive defending to head home the opener in the 29th minute.

Villa looked much more threatening in the second half, with Areola having already denied Ezri Konsa and Tielemans before Zaniolo finally levelled things up.

The latter was then inches from connecting with a Lucas Digne cross as the visitors hunted a winner, while only a well-placed defensive boot prevented Watkins from sending Diaby through on goal in stoppage time.

With Jacob Ramsey’s absence continuing to stretch resources, a win would have arguably been Villa’s biggest statement yet in a season in which they have already delivered several sizeable ones.

The point was merely further confirmation of their fighting qualities, though it was also difficult not to reflect on the foolhardiness of McGinn’s suspension. His presence here would have made a difference and he will remain absent for the visit of Wolves and the trip to Manchester City.

Without him, yesterday still might be considered a missed opportunity but if there is one lesson to be gleaned from the past weekend, it is there will be others.