Leon Goretzka did not feature when Aston Villa faced Arsenal on Monday night, with Unai Emery pointing to a need for further conditioning work. According to Birmingham Live, the Germany international had only recently finalised his move to the club on a free transfer and was not considered physically prepared for the fixture.
Emery indicated there was no underlying injury problem. He told reporters that additional sessions on the training pitch are required before the midfielder can perform at the standard the coaching staff demands, expressing hope that three more days of preparation would leave him available for selection this weekend.
Villa travel to the MKM Stadium on Saturday evening to play Hull City, where they will seek their first points of the campaign. Sergej Jakirović’s hosts have started strongly, winning both of their opening games while keeping clean sheets in each.
Against Arsenal, Ross Barkley operated alongside Boubacar Kamara in central areas. That pairing was necessary because Joao Gomes remains unavailable through suspension, having been dismissed for violent conduct during the season-opening trip to Brighton.
The Brazilian’s ban extends beyond the Arsenal match. He is also set to miss the upcoming league fixtures against Hull and Nottingham Forest, leaving Emery short of options in the middle of the park until Goretzka is fully integrated.
With the summer transfer window now closed until January 2027, the former Bayern Munich player represents one of the final additions to the squad. His arrival came just days before the deadline, meaning pre-season work with his new teammates was impossible.
Saturday’s 5:30pm kick-off offers a realistic target for his first involvement. Should he prove sharp enough in training over the coming days, Emery will have an extra option as Villa attempt to get their season moving.
