Unai Emery very honest after Newcastle United the better team at Villa Park | OneFootball

Unai Emery has been reflecting on Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0.

The Villa boss watching on as United should have had the game won by half-time.

Eddie Howe’s side dominating the opening 45 as the statistics show (see below), Newcastle with eight shots in the first half and Villa not a single one.

A combination of an absence of clinical finishing by the visitors and some very good saves by the home keeper.

Newcastle United dominating the overall stats as well, including total shots, which shows 16 v 3 in United’s favour.

Unai Emery accepting that Aston Villa were fortunate to come away with a point.

Unai Emery reflecting on Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0:

“Grateful for our supporters. Full stadium, the first match we were, everybody, motivated and excited to start here winning.

“Of course, this is the 22nd match not losing at home and it is very good as well to achieve it, but to lose like we did today, two points at home, maybe is not the best.

“We are not happy when we are losing two points at home.

“I think more or less they (Newcastle United) maybe deserved more because they had better chances. Against the opponent we have, we have to accept it.

“We didn’t concede a lot, but very good chances they had, and our goalkeeper saved fantastic, Marco (Bizot).”

Unai Emery on whether Ezri Konsa should have made the challenge leading to the red card:

“It is difficult to anticipate which is best in that moment.

“This action for Konsa, I can’t say anything about this decision.

“After the red card, again, the match changed completely.

“Of course, in my mind, was that we have to try to get one transition and to score one goal to win.

“But firstly, we needed defensively to set a high commitment, everybody in their task, and they did it.

“And, of course, we didn’t concede a lot of chances (after the red card). More or less, we were defending a lot of corners, and I think we have to accept this result.’

Unai Emery on the transfer window and PSR:

“Since I’ve been here we have done fantastic transfer window.

“We have to be intelligent and the most important thing is how we are building the team and getting as strong as possible with the players we have.

“We are ambitious but we are ambitious trying to respect the rules and trying to get the best players possible.

“We are not going to rest in case we can be with some options in the transfer window.”

Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0 – Saturday 16 August 2025 12.30pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Villa

Konsa red card 66

(Stats in brackets are at half-time)

Possession was Newcastle 59% (58%) Villa 41% (42%)

Total shots were Newcastle 16 (8) Villa 3 (0)

Shots on target were Newcastle 3 (2) Villa 3 (0)

Corners were Newcastle 6 (3) Villa 3 (2)

Touches in the box Newcastle 33 (18) Villa 14 (5)

Newcastle team v Aston Villa:

Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Joelinton (Miley 83), Tonali, Bruno, Barnes (Osula 90), Gordon, Elanga (Jacob Murphy 78)

Unused subs:

Ramsdale, Hall, Botman, Thiaw, Krafth, Seung-soo

(BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Interesting on Newcastle United after Aston Villa 0-0…Read HERE)

(Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)

(Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

(Match Report – United’s demise much exaggerated as by far the better team – It ends Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0 – Read HERE)

Opening Newcastle United match schedule:

Saturday 16 August – Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0

Monday 25 August – Newcastle v Liverpool (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 30 August – Leeds v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 13 September – Newcastle v Wolves (3pm)