Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has selected his side to take on West Ham in the Premier League
13:02, 22 Mar 2026Updated 13:15, 22 Mar 2026
Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
Unai Emery has named his starting XI for Aston Villa’s Premier League clash with West Ham this afternoon.
He has opted to make five changes from the side that beat Lille 2–0 at Villa Park on Thursday night.
Emi Martinez starts in goal behind a defence of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne.
Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley operate in the double pivot, while Jadon Sancho, John McGinn and Morgan Rogers support striker Ollie Watkins.
Youri Tielemans returns to the matchday squad after missing the last two months through injury, and takes his place on the bench.
Villa are looking to complete a league double over West Ham for the first time since the 2010–11 season, which was the last time the Hammers were relegated from the top flight.
Although they are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games against West Ham, Villa have won just one of their last seven meetings with them at Villa Park.
They have lost their last three league games – as many as they had in their previous 17 combined. However, Emery has never lost four consecutive league matches in his entire managerial career.
West Ham, meanwhile, have earned 15 points from their last nine Premier League games – one more than they managed in their first 21 matches of the season.
Villa starting XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Barkley; Sancho, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Maatsen, Bogarde, Mings, Tielemans, Luiz, Buendia, Bailey, Abraham.
West Ham starting XI: Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf; Soucek, Fernandes; Bowen, Pablo, Castellanos.
Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Adama, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.
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