News about Leon Bailey

JOE BERNSTEIN AT VILLA PARK: Not only is Ollie Watkins in the running to win a Golden Boot, he's also the leading assist-maker in the Premier League this season. Aston Villa's comeback win cemented their position in fourth and although Watkins wasn't on the scoresheet himself, he created match-winning goals in the second half for Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailey. Significantly, they were both greeted by fans singing the name of the England striker rather than either of the scorers.

LILLE 2-1 ASTON VILLA (agg 3-3, aet, 3-4 on pens) - TOM COLLOMOSSE IN LILLE: Emi Martinez might be the world's best goalkeeper but the Aston Villa star is also the greatest wind-up merchant on the planet. Martinez's brilliant saves in the penalty shoot-out knocked out Lille and sent Villa to their first European semi-final since 1982. But Goodness me, do we really need the ridiculous antics that go with it? Martinez was booked during the shoot-out - his second of the game after being penalised for running down the clock in the first half. He was not sent off only because yellow cards issued in general play do not carry through when the game reaches penalties. It seems unlikely Martinez knew this rule, given his panicked gestures when referee Ivan Kruzliak approached.

Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier pulled off an incredible double save to deny Aston Villa in their Conference League quarter-final tie. Villa saved their place in the competition with a late aggregate equaliser from Matty Cash, forcing the game into extra time in France with Lille winning 2-1 on the night. The visitors thought they had taken the lead just before the break in extra time when Leon Bailey's effort was parried by Chevalier into the path of Douglas Luiz, but the midfielder's header was spectacularly stopped by the Frenchman.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez appeared to be sent off during his side's penalty shootout against Lille - only to remain on the pitch due to a little-known rule before helping his side to victory. The Argentina goalkeeper, who was booed by Lille fans after his antics in the World Cup final shootout against France, was warned by Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak before he was shown a second yellow card. A bizarre rule, however, meant he was allowed to remain on the pitch for the rest of the shootout and was the hero once again as he guided Villa into the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes one result could come back to haunt the Gunners this season in their pursuit of their first Premier League title in two decades. Mikel Arteta's men relinquished top spot over the weekend after losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa, with late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins handing Arsenal their first league defeat in 2024. Defending champions Manchester City are now in the ascendancy in the title race having moved two points clear of Arsenal and Liverpool - who were also beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has scored more non-penalty goals than any other player in the division. The 28-year-old has been in imperious form this term, having seen his performances dramatically improve after the appointment of Unai Emery in October 2022. Villa moved ahead of Tottenham after a 2-0 win against Arsenal on Sunday, with goals from Leon Bailey and Watkins - which took his tally to 19. The England international's total is made all the more impressive by the fact he has not taken a penalty this season.

Gary Neville and Paul Merson both took issue with one Arsenal star after their 2-0 home defeat by Aston Villa - as the former said he was 'the problem' in the team.  The Gunners were dealt a massive blow in the title race at the Emirates on Sunday as two late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins consigned them to a fifth defeat of the season to hand Manchester City the initiative at the top of the table. Manager Mikel Arteta made a handful of changes to his usual XI, opting to switch Kai Havertz from forward to central midfield, while Leandro Trossard came in to start on the left hand side with no space for Jorginho.

Bukayo Saka was mocked by fans for limping again during a big game after dropping a 'stinker' during Arsenal's 2-0 loss to Aston Villa.  The England winger played the full 90 minutes of Arsenal's agonising defeat at the Emirates that deals a hammer blow to their title chances, with Manchester City taking the initiative after Liverpool also lost at home to Crystal Palace.  The Gunners missed the chance to go top of the table as Unai Emery's men struck late to seal shock victory - with Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins scoring in the final ten minutes of the game.  

Piers Morgan has identified Cristiano Ronaldo as a player who would 'score 25+ goals' for Arsenal after their disappointing 2-0 loss to Aston Villa. The Gunners have been one of the leading contenders to win their first Premier League title since 2003-04 after a strong campaign under boss Mikel Arteta, but their agonising home defeat to the Villans brought a reality check.  Arsenal were frustrated by Unai Emery's men, who shocked the home faithful with two late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins to hand the initiative in the title race to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. 

Former England striker Alan Shearer says there is no doubt that Ollie Watkins will be a member of Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024. The Aston Villa striker continued his fine form with a sumptuous finish in Sunday's shock 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.  Unai Emery's side produced a brilliant display in north London with Watkins wrapping up the three points minutes shortly Leon Bailey had broken the deadlock in the 84th minute.

Arsenal fans have been left stunned by Oleksandr Zinchenko's defending during their 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa on Sunday. The Gunners missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League as they fell to late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins . Mikel Arteta 's side were uncharacteristically poor defensively and gave up three big chances at the Emirates - more than half as many as they had conceded in the previous 11 league fixtures.

ISAAN KHAN AT THE EMIRATES: Aston Villa tightened their grip on securing a Champions League spot after they claimed a 2-0 victory against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.  After neither team could break the deadlock, with Youri Tielemans rattling the bar in the second half, substitute Leon Bailey would get the beakthrough for the Villans, thumping a low strike into the bottom-left corner.  Unai Emery's side doubled their lead just two minutes later, with Ollie Watkins breaking through Arsenal's defence before dinking the ball over David Raya to seal victory.

Paul Merson is adamant Arsenal have blown their chances of winning the Premier League after suffering a 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa . The former Gunners midfielder lamented the efforts of Ben White and Kai Havertz after watching his old side go down to goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins .Defeat left Arsenal two points behind Manchester City . Mikel Arteta's side's title aspirations had earlier been given a boost by Liverpool's defeat to Crystal Palace .

ARSENAL 0-2 ASTON VILLA: Unai Emery's Aston Villa severely dented Arsenal's Premier League title bid as two late goals gave them a deserved 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium. In yet another twist in the run-in, the Gunners were well beaten as Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins struck within three minutes of one another to stun the home fans. Liverpool had lost at Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday and a fifth league defeat of the campaign for Arsenal leaves Mikel Arteta's side in second - two points behind reigning champions Manchester City.

Former Tottenham striker and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has poked fun at Arsenal after their damaging 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa . Mikel Arteta 's were hoping to return to the Premier League summit and had been buoyed by Liverpool 's loss earlier in the day, but they were undone by goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins . The Gunners were also looking to dispel any lingering memories of their collapse in the final weeks of last season, when they surrendered a commanding position and finished five-points behind Manchester City .

ISAAN KHAN AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: It may have been a pivotal weekend in the title race, with Mikel Arteta's side failing to make good their opportunity to go two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, following their 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa.  Leon Bailey smashed a thumping low effort into the bottom left corner of the goal in the 83rd minute of the match after Arsenal failed to deal with Lucas Digne's ball that flew across the face of the goal.  Ollie Watkins would return three minutes later to score a sensational breakaway goal, dinking the ball over David Raya to seal the victory. Aston Villa could have sealed victory earlier in the second half after Youri Tielemans smashed a long-range effort against the cross bar.

Piers Morgan has expressed his frustration after Arsenal suffered a potentially costly 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa. Late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins inflicted a defeat on the Gunners, who remain two points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City with six games remaining.  The Gunners were the second title challengers to lose at home on Sunday, with Liverpool losing 1-0 to Crystal Palace.

TOM COLLOMOSSE AT VILLA PARK: Ollie Watkins gave Aston Villa a scare by limping off with a knee injury as his team marched into their first European quarter-final since 1998. Watkins was forced to leave moments after leading the first half of the game against 10-man Ajax, whose captain Jordan Henderson was suspended throughout, and it's now a question for England's friendlies against Brazil and Belgium later this month. Villa has risen to fourth place in the Premier League thanks to his 16 league goals and ten assists.

TOM COLLOMOSSE: We're going to find out how well Villa can cope without their captain and most popular player. Ollie Watkins contributes to the goals, Emi Martinez makes the saves, and Leon Bailey adds the flair, but McGinn is the man who knits, not the knitter. He won't be back for the next three matches, but it could be too late. McGinn made the wild tackle on Udogie while Villa was surprisingly losing 4-0 at home to Spurs on Sunday, in addition to missing the home game against Wolves on March 30 and the trip to Manchester City on April 3.

If Leon Bailey carries his form, it would certainly help Villa keep their push for the top-four. Against Nottingham Forest, the Jamaican was electric, introducing the opener for Ollie Watkins and scoring their fourth. Douglas Luiz scored twice for Forest, with Moussa Niakhate and Morgan Gibbs-White scoring.

TOM COLLOMOSSE AT VILLA PARK: Leon Bailey adored Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho growing up and put on a show worthy of those modern legends to help Aston Villa's hopes for Champions League football. Bailey's transformation from near-outcast to main man has been impressive this season, and the Villa winger was on full throttle again here, taking full advantage of Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo's bizarre decision to select center-back Moussa Niakhate on the left of his back four. Bailey created the opener for Ollie Watkins within four minutes in front of Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris, and Villa soared thanks to Douglas Luiz's first-half double. And yet goals from Niakhate and Morgan Gibbs-White, as well as Bailey's fourth, brought Villa the jitters down, but only after an hour.

Boubacar Kamara, an Aston University midfielder, is expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury. Kamara sustained the injury after Villa's 2-1 loss at home to Manchester United on Sunday, according to The Athletic. Kamara had to be recalled in the 65th minute, with Leon Bailey assisting him. Unai Emery's Villa's quest for a top-four finish is harmed by Kamara's injury.

Leon Bailey has signed a new deal with Aston Villa in the Premier League, according to the club. The 26-year-old Jamaica winger has extended his stay since being first moved to Villa Park from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021. Bailey has scored seven goals in 21 appearances this season to help Unai Emery's side mount a surprising top-four challenge.

Douglas Luiz saw the brighter side after being mocked by former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand, when the Red Devils defeated Aston Villa 2-1. Man United had started first at Villa Park on Sunday, with Rasmus Hojlund scoring in his fifth Premier League game. With the midfielder turning in Leon Bailey's cross, Luiz brought Aston Villa level in the second half.