If Unai Emery could bring back just one of the six first-teamers he lost in the summer, he would pick Ezri Konsa in a heartbeat.
Aston Villa have kept only one clean sheet this season and they let in two more here to throw away a first home win of the season.
Yehor Yarmoliuk gave Brentford the lead in the 10th minute before Nicolas Jackson equalised 90 seconds later. John McGinn thought he’d claimed the winner in the 76th minute yet this time Brentford bounced back instantly through Kristoffer Ajer.
Daily Mail Sport looks at the main talking points from Villa Park.
Konsa sorely missed
No matter what combination they try in central defence, they cannot fill the Konsa-shaped hole. No surprise there. Konsa is an outstanding defender whose qualities are finally now appreciated worldwide as he plays for Arsenal and England.
But why did Villa choose Taylor Harwood-Bellis to replace him? Harwood-Bellis cost up to £30million from Southampton but cannot even get in the matchday squad.
Nicolas Jackson got his seocnd Villa goal to level matters after Yehor Yarmoliuk’s early opener
Centre-half Kristoffer Ajer scored his first Premier League goal since 2023 in spectacular style to snatch a point for the Bees
With Pau Torres still regaining fitness, Villa relied on Victor Lindelof and Tyrone Mings, whose combined age is 65. It is not sustainable for a club with their ambitions.
Trouble at home
For most of Emery’s reign, Villa Park has been a fortress but no longer. Villa have not won here this season and have lost six of their last 12 Premier League matches in front of their own fans.
‘No excuses’, insists Emery – but it does not help that Villa are playing in a three-sided ground.
Villa hope to take their capacity to 52,000 in time for next season and that means rebuilding the North Stand across this campaign.
The necessary construction work has removed a vital part of what made Villa so effective.
At half-time, with the score 1-1, Villa were outsiders with one bookmaker to win the game. That shows how things have changed here.
Villa had no choice. They need to boost revenue and a bigger ground is a good way to do so. In the meantime, they must find a way to limit the damage.
Brentford are big players
A point at home to Brentford feels disappointing for Villa fans but that is because we still judge them by the past not the present.
This is arguably the best-run club in the Premier League and Keith Andrews’ men are still unbeaten in all competitions.
The Manchester City guilty verdict and ongoing process makes this a grim time for football. With their clear sense of identity on and off the pitch, their smart recruitment and impressive football, over-achieving clubs like Brentford are a ray of light cutting through the general gloom.
