Alejandro Garnacho has given Aston Villa a reason to reconsider his limited role before Brentford visit Villa Park. Deciding whose place he should take is considerably harder.
His goal in Friday’s 3–1 friendly victory over Sevilla supplied an encouraging moment after a frustrating opening to his loan spell. It also creates a straightforward question for Unai Emery: how much should that performance change the attacking hierarchy?
Our view is that Garnacho has strengthened his case for meaningful competitive minutes. An immediate starting place needs a broader argument.
What Garnacho’s Sevilla goal actually showed
Garnacho put Villa ahead in the 79th minute, arriving at the far post to finish Alysson’s cross, according to Sevilla’s official report.
That detail matters. A winger can influence an attack by reaching the scoring position when the delivery comes from the opposite side, as well as by creating something with the ball.
For Garnacho, the finish provides a concrete example of that contribution. It is more useful evidence than simply describing him as determined to impress.
The 3–1 victory and Antonio Puerta Trophy also gave Villa a positive conclusion to their work in Spain.
There are limits to the comparison with Premier League football, however. A friendly containing numerous substitutions offers a different test from a competitive match with a settled defensive structure.
Emery must decide which parts of Garnacho’s performance can carry into the Brentford game. The goal helps his argument, but it cannot answer every selection question.
Who would Garnacho replace against Brentford?
Villa’s last Premier League starting side provides the most relevant comparison.
Tottenham’s official match report records John McGinn, Emi Buendía and Johan Manzambi behind Nicolas Jackson in the 3–2 victory on September 19. Garnacho remained an unused substitute.
Manzambi, Jackson and Buendía all scored. That gives Emery a reason to retain the attacking combinations that delivered the club’s most recent league win.
Manzambi is therefore an obvious player to discuss when considering a change, but his contribution cannot disappear from the assessment because Garnacho scored more recently.
Replacing Buendía would pose another question about the balance of the attack. Introducing a winger does not automatically reproduce the work of the player leaving the side.
Moving McGinn would also affect the arrangement around the other attackers. Emery needs to consider the whole unit rather than treating its positions as interchangeable.
The decision is whether Garnacho offers something Villa particularly need against Brentford, and whether that benefit outweighs what the existing combination provides.
Emery’s earlier explanation still matters
After the Coventry cup tie, Emery said Garnacho was progressing but remained behind other players.
In comments reported by TyC Sports on September 17, the manager highlighted competition involving George Hemmings, Alysson and Ibrahim Mbaye. He also referenced Garnacho’s disrupted pre-season and the need for patience.
Those were comments about his position at that point, rather than a permanent verdict on his future.
Friday offered another opportunity to change that assessment. Yet the competition Emery described still matters: Garnacho is trying to move ahead of players who also need opportunities and have contributed.
The next team selection will show whether his work during the break has changed the manager’s thinking.
Our verdict: give Garnacho a meaningful opportunity
There is a reasonable middle course between leaving Garnacho unused and immediately promoting him into the starting XI.
If Emery retains the attacking group from Tottenham, Garnacho should be a serious option for a substantial appearance from the bench, depending on the match situation.
That would give him time to influence a competitive game and provide a better basis for judging his progress than another brief late introduction.
An unchanged starting attack would not, by itself, mean his Sevilla performance had counted for nothing. Equally, Friday’s goal should not become a reason to overlook what Manzambi and Buendía have already delivered.
Villa have another week before Brentford, with international involvement and training still to shape the available options. The return of Pau Torres and Brian Madjo adds to the wider selection picture.
Garnacho has supplied a positive piece of evidence. Our preference is for Emery to test that progress with meaningful league minutes, while making him earn a regular starting role.
