Ahh Gabriel Agbonlahor, one of Villa’s most divisive players in history. On the one hand, he’s been a tremendously loyal player with the ability to produce a magical goal out of nowhere.
On the other, he’s a player who can be lackadaisical and hold himself back due to not pulling his weight enough for Villa. Nonetheless the 28-year old has scored some belters during his Villa career and here is for our money the best five.
Five: Birmingham city 2007
Now this goal doesn’t exactly involve a 40-yard thunderbolt or dribbling past three people. However, a goal is only really as good as the context it was scored in, and that makes this goal a belter. It’s the 87th minute and Birmingham City look the far more likely to score. Agbonlahor himself had already been heroic at the other end, after acrobatically clearing Liam Ridgewell’s header. Before Ashley Young’s cross was met with Gabby’s head in a simple yet beautiful fashion; made even more beautiful considering who it was scored against.
Four: Blackburn rovers 2011
A real Luis Suarez-esque striker from the former-England player helped kickstart an emphatic win over the Lancashire outfit. The forward made Michel Salgado look like a Sunday League defender in dire need of a half-time orange, twisting and turning the Spaniard inside out; before hitting a wonderfully curled effort from outside the box. It’s a goal that makes you think just what a player he could have been, and how on balance he’s been a bit hard done by at Villa Park.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAK1n7Z8ISk
three – arsenal 2008
Regardless of whatever technical abilities he possesses, Agbonlahor will be remembered by the FIFA generation for his pace, a trait he proved in a stunning counter attack goal against Arsenal. Gabby receives the ball in the final third after a thumping clearance, manages to control it with his head, before taking it past Johan Djourou and slotting it past Almunia near post.
two: Fulham 2009
There’s something about a knuckleball strike that makes it look wonderful no matter who scores it, and Agbonlahor proved this with one of the best against the Cottagers. What sets it apart is that it’s in open play when a typical knuckle shot is from a set play, not to mention his pace makes the technique even harder to achieve. Agbonlahor pulls the routine off perfectly though to place the ball in the bottom right-hand corner leaving Mark Schwarzer in no man’s land.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GOSu4q_RPw
One: West Bromwich Albion 2015
Once again context is king with this goal, in a season where Villa seemed doomed to relegation with but the visit of the Baggies looked to be a life and death game. The boyhood fan responded with one of his best performances in a Villa shirt to date. His goal made it all the better a classy pass into the net from a flick on by Benteke. And all of a sudden the doldrums of a season he was having was forgotten. The positioning and the finish perfect, and one of the goals that went a long way to rejuvenating our fortunes under Tim Sherwood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7wGB3CZbGQ
