After an iffy start to the campaign under previous boss Steven Gerrard, former Arsenal boss Emery has steered the Birmingham-based outfit away from the foot of the table, positioning them in a far more comfortable 10th place. With 11 points and six teams separating themselves from the relegation zone, Villa are one of a few teams in the Premier League safe from the drop but a distance away from the battle for Europe. In recent weeks Gary O’Neil has changed his backline to deal with the threat of Manchester City and Arsenal, operating with a three-man central defence, before reverting to the more familiar back four in the win over Liverpool last time out. Discussing Cherries,
Unai Emery shared: “It will be a very difficult match, because they are in a good moment. They focus on getting away from the bottom. It will be a big challenge for us. They are changing their shape; sometimes playing with four, sometimes with five. Their best performance is playing 4-4-2. We have to respect them. We have to know their shape and that if something is changing, how to defend against them and to attack them. Individually, we have to know their characteristics as players. Their shapes with the ball and without the ball. They now have confidence and we have to adapt to them but impose our idea as well. We have to fight the duels being winners. That is the challenge tomorrow.”
