Aston Villa's concerning start to the Premier League season is defined by a complete lack of goals. The club has failed to score in its first three matches, managing just one shot on target across those fixtures, a situation manager Unai Emery acknowledges requires patience as a rebuilt forward line finds its feet.
According to a report from BBC Sport Football, Villa's attacking struggles come amid significant squad turnover. Six of the starting eleven from last season's Europa League triumph in Istanbul have departed Villa Park. Key among those exits was the club-record sale of Ollie Watkins to Al-Hilal for £51 million. Watkins, who scored 91 Premier League goals for Villa, formed a potent partnership with Morgan Rogers, who also left for Chelsea in a £117 million deal. Together, they accounted for 46% of the team's league goals last term.
Who are Villa's new attacking signings?
The club invested heavily to replace that firepower. Nicolas Jackson arrived from Chelsea for a record £65 million fee. Jackson scored 30 goals in 81 appearances for the Blues, including 14 goals and five assists in his debut Premier League season. He followed that with 10 goals in the 2024-25 campaign before moving to Bayern Munich, where he has shown a 21.1% conversion rate.
Villa also secured Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris St-Germain for £47 million. The forward created four goals in just ten starts for PSG last season. Another addition, Alejandro Garnacho, joined from Chelsea after creating six big chances and registering four assists last term, though he only found the net once. The rebuild is further complicated by the absence of Johan Manzambi, who is yet to play due to a knee injury. He is listed on the club's injuries page alongside Amadou Onana, Brian Madjo, and Leon Goretzka.
What is the current league situation?
The immediate consequence of this attacking transition is a difficult start to the 2026-27 Premier League campaign. Aston Villa currently sit 17th in the standings with just one point from three games, following a draw with Hull and a 1-0 loss to Arsenal. Their recent form reads as two losses and a draw (DLL), with zero goals scored and five conceded, resulting in a -5 goal difference. They already find themselves eight points behind early leaders Manchester City.
Unai Emery has been clear in his messaging. "We must be patient, and we should understand that we are rebuilding the team," the manager said. He added, "Now is no time to think two weeks or three weeks forward." His focus is squarely on the immediate challenge, which includes a Champions League group stage match against Club Brugge on Tuesday.
How does the squad look beyond the attack?
While the spotlight is on the new forwards, other January additions remain part of the setup. Douglas Luiz returned on loan from Juventus, and Tammy Abraham arrived from Besiktas, adding experience to the group. The manager's task is to blend these pieces quickly, especially with a congested schedule. After the European fixture, attention turns back to the league and a vital home match against Nottingham Forest on September 12th. Forest are currently 16th, making it a significant early-season encounter near the bottom of the table.
The full schedule ahead can be viewed on the club's fixtures page. Emery's call for patience will be tested as Villa seeks its first goal and win of the season against Forest at Villa Park.
