Surely Aston Villa are not about to make the same mistake twice. The club spent an entire season covering the sizeable wages of a loan player they never intended to keep. Would they really allow that situation to happen again?

When people assess Alejandro Garnacho’s difficult start at Villa Park, Harvey Elliott is the comparison that immediately comes to mind. The arrangements are similar — a loan deal containing a conditional obligation to buy — while both players have found regular first-team football hard to come by.

By last autumn, Unai Emery had decided he did not want Aston Villa to sign Elliott permanently. Under the terms of his loan agreement, the midfielder made only nine appearances during the campaign before returning to Liverpool.

At the equivalent stage of Elliott’s Villa spell, he had played 118 minutes, despite arriving only at the end of the summer 2025 transfer window. Garnacho joined Villa Park with expectations high, yet he has managed just 31 minutes so far.

The proposed £43 million transfer next summer, included in the loan agreement with Chelsea and dependent on certain targets being met, already appears increasingly unlikely.

There is still time for Garnacho to change the narrative. Aston Villa will play two friendlies during the international break, including a meeting with Sevilla in Spain on October 2. The Argentina winger must throw himself fully into the training camp, because the remainder of his Villa career could depend on what happens next.

Why Garnacho?

Shortly after the final whistle of Aston Villa’s 3-1 victory at Coventry on September 16, Garnacho was making his way out of the CBS Arena towards the Villa team bus. With Emery rotating his side for the Carabao Cup tie, many expected the winger to start. Instead, he did not even get onto the pitch.

The decision would have frustrated any player, particularly one who had already made almost 200 senior appearances and won eight caps for Argentina before turning 23. It is understood, however, that there were no mandatory post-match exercises because the squad was scheduled to train the next morning.

Even so, consistent commitment is usually the surest way into Emery’s plans. The Aston Villa manager expects his players to be ‘serious, mature, responsible’ professionals.

Emery may not be standing on the touchline after matches, but very little escapes his attention.

His coaching staff will report back on everything that happened during the post-match running drills: which exercises were completed, who pushed themselves, and whether anyone failed to give the required effort.

Garnacho was again left on the bench at Tottenham three days later. Had Brazilian winger Alysson been fit, the Manchester United loanee may not even have been included in the squad.

The reasons for Aston Villa’s interest in Garnacho are clear. Although he struggled during his time at Chelsea last season, he scored 21 goals and supplied 17 assists for Manchester United between 2023 and 2025. Emery has been searching for a direct, game-changing wide attacker since arriving at Villa, and Garnacho appeared to fit that profile.

But an important question continues to linger: was Emery genuinely determined to sign Garnacho, as he had been when pursuing Morgan Rogers in January 2024, Marco Asensio on loan a year later or Nicolas Jackson this summer?

If Emery was truly desperate to bring Garnacho to Villa Park, it would be surprising that he subsequently elevated academy prospect George Hemmings above him and approved the £50 million deal for Ibrahim Mbaye, a player capable of operating on either flank. His early-season support for Alysson adds to the uncertainty.

Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris and Chelsea counterpart Behdad Eghbali are also thought to enjoy good relations though Emery laughed off suggestions last month that the two clubs, both on the naughty step with UEFA for breaching financial rules, would ever help each other. 

‘They want to kill us, and we want to kill them,’ he said. ‘They signed Morgan and Emiliano Martinez to kill us.’

The facts are these: Garnacho joined Villa from Chelsea on July 23, two days after Rogers had moved in the opposite direction for a record £117m. Chelsea and Villa traded four players this summer alone, with Martinez moving to Stamford Bridge along with Rogers, and Jackson joining Garnacho in the West Midlands. Set-piece coach Austin MacPhee swapped Villa for Chelsea, too.

Clubs can deal with one another as they see fit but unless Garnacho starts to play regularly, we will always wonder about the exact circumstances that led him to Villa. 

Can Garnacho turn it around?

After Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, Garnacho is the third player to lose his way at United and turn up at Villa on loan not long afterwards.

The spell at Villa Park in the second half of 2024-25 revived Rashford’s career. Though he could not help Villa qualify for the Champions League, he did enough under Emery to earn a year’s loan at Barcelona and make the England squad for the World Cup. Rashford is now playing for United again, which seemed impossible only a year ago.

On the flipside, Sancho started only nine Premier League games for Villa and is now without a club after leaving Old Trafford last summer. Reports in Russia this week said the 26-year-old was in discussions with top-flight club Krasnodar. Emery had really wanted Rashford; Sancho not so much.

Whose path will Garnacho follow? Playing for Emery can be exhausting but there are still relatively painless ways to impress him. 

Lucas Digne, for example, won his boss over partly by turning up for extra sessions on his days off. ‘Continue working,’ said Emery when asked how Garnacho can force his way into the team. ‘Work, work, train, work.’

There is another simple rule with Emery: a player can catch the eye as much he likes on the ball but if he does not follow instructions when Villa do not have possession, he will not play very often. 

Emery has already ticked off Garnacho for dawdling on the touchline when preparing to come on and has admitted Garnacho could have done better in his early appearances. These are not good signs.

Listening actively in meetings, both individual and collective, is also key. Emery will explain in painstaking detail what he wants from a player. If he does not deliver it, woe betide him. 

Emery will not tailor his approach to young people with short attention spans. It’s his immersive way – repetitive training sessions, 90-minute video briefings, detailed tactical breakdowns – or nothing. With 12 major trophies to his name, why should he change?

After significant turnover this summer, Emery is relying even more on a cohort of senior players who have been at Villa throughout his time – John McGinn, Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia. They emphasise to new signings exactly what is needed to succeed at the club.

The smart ones listen and learn. There is no suggestion that Garnacho, a shy, quiet individual, is disruptive but clearly he is not doing enough to convince Emery and right now few at Bodymoor Heath can see a path to regular first-team football. 

There is mitigation: Garnacho suffered a nasty facial injury during a pre-season fixture against Thai club BG Pathum United, which slowed his progress and meant he did not feature in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain. Playing on the wing for Emery is also the most tactically demanding role on the pitch and very few master it immediately.

Daily Mail Sport understands Garnacho scored the only goal in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Southampton yesterday. That won’t do his cause any harm.

Garnacho’s career is still in his own hands – though Sancho’s tale should be fresh in his mind.

How does the story end?

Watch Garnacho’s first interview at Villa and you will see a player who has lost his way and is fighting to regain it.

‘We are delighted with Alejandro,’ said Emery at the time. ‘He is so talented, young and he showed us his wish to help our project. We are really happy.’

Emery has seen what Garnacho can do. Cash was one of Villa’s best players last season yet when Chelsea hammered them 4-1 at Villa Park, Garnacho gave the right back a chasing. It was a reminder of what he offered during his best spells at United.

‘I was looking for a club to get confidence and to try to be the player I was in my first years at United,’ said Garnacho on the day he joined Villa. ‘I spoke with the manager and I think he will give me the confidence to be here and to help the team.’ Emery and Garnacho were filmed embracing during the video.

Since he crossed swords with former United boss Ruben Amorim, there has been far more focus on Garnacho’s mistakes than his talent – and this is partly his fault. He still has immense raw ability and Emery is exactly the type of coach who can unlock it, as long as they can find a common understanding.

Time is already running out. Daily Mail Sport revealed on September 21 that La Liga clubs are already following the situation, should the loan be cancelled in January. If that happens, it would feel like a huge missed opportunity, for Villa, Emery and most of all Garnacho himself. The ball is in his court.

Gary Neville described Manchester United’s second-half display as the worst he had ever seen from the club.

I’m not sure I would go that far. Since Sir Alex Ferguson left, the standard has fallen so dramatically that the competition for that unwanted distinction is already crowded.

As this column has noted before, one of the biggest tests for any Manchester United manager is handling the wild swings in mood: euphoria after a win and outright panic after a defeat.

Michael Carrick understood that challenge before the season began, but each setback is bringing the issue back into sharper focus.

The reality is that the United team on display now is the one some observers expected to emerge.

They will not spend the entire campaign in the lower half of the Premier League. This squad is better than that.

At the same time, they are not built to mount a serious title challenge.

Carrick guided United into the top four last season when circumstances aligned almost perfectly. His side had no European football, had exited both domestic cup competitions early and could prepare for one match a week, while avoiding a damaging run of injuries and watching several major rivals struggle badly.

The situation is different now. United lack the squad depth—and perhaps the manager—to handle the demands of a far more taxing campaign.

The substitutes’ bench against yesterday offered a telling snapshot. Which players were capable of changing the game?

Until United assemble a squad capable of surviving a season of more than 50 matches, it is difficult to see the wider problems being resolved.

Hall will have other offers

Criticism of United’s recruitment strategy is understandable, particularly the apparent plan to strengthen midfield and attack this year before turning attention to the defence next summer.

That strategy has made Lewis Hall a leading target for United ahead of next summer’s transfer window.

However, if the talented 22-year-old continues producing performances like the one he delivered for Newcastle in Saturday’s victory over Hull, United may regret waiting.

Could Liverpool be searching for a left-back next summer? It is possible. Chelsea, Hall’s former club, could also be interested.

United cannot assume the competition for Hall’s signature will disappear by the end of the season. January will provide an opportunity to move early, and they may decide it is one worth taking.

Gunners beware

Arsenal possess the Premier League’s deepest squad, the strongest back four, an outstanding goalkeeper and a manager who has already won the title. If the Gunners fail to defend their crown this season, they will have to take a hard look at why.

They say going back-to-back on a Premier League title is harder than actually winning it in the first place. I would dispute that this season, particularly now that it already looks like a two-horse race between Arsenal and Manchester City yet again.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United already look short – by a distance in some cases – of what it takes. 

Tottenham? There must be a joke there somewhere.

Arsenal’s start to the season had been imperious until they arrived at Brighton on Saturday. What took place at the Amex Stadium looked and felt like a huge wake-up call, not just for Arsenal but for the Premier League as a whole.

A day to remind us that we may yet have a title race and a day when Arsenal learned that you can’t just turn up and win a football match, whoever you are.

If it serves to remind the champions of some basic fundamentals of the game, it may serve them in the long run.

But Arteta’s own words after the game were telling.

‘They were another gear from us in the basics of the game,’ said the Arsenal manager.

‘We were not respecting the game. This cannot happen again.’

Footage of the game backed Arteta up. Given that Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler accused them of playing anti-football last season, Arsenal should not have lacked motivation.

But they were outrun and outfought by their opponents.

Declan Rice should be embarrassed by his kick out at Malick Yalcouye – he should have been sent off – while Gabriel’s dive under zero contact from Yasin Ayari was not befitting of a Sunday parks player, never mind the best defender in the land.

Given the way Arsenal have started the season – with a 100 per cent record prior to the weekend – it’s too early to make sweeping statements about the champions. They showed last season that after two or three near misses, they have matured into the real deal.

Arteta’s squad is frighteningly good. He has the type of quality on the bench that is reminiscent of peak City under Pep Guardiola. In these days of five substitutes, it is arguably the biggest advantage they have.

None of it means much if you don’t run, though.

Season 2026-27 represents Arsenal’s opportunity to put the Premier League in a choke hold and make it their own. If they don’t do it, they will have the rest of their careers to regret it.

It will be a long international break for some Arsenal players.

Arbeloa has failed his team

Fulham are yet to win but look to have plenty about them and in Josh King, have a young midfielder who is just joyful to watch.

Manager Alvaro Arbeloa would be advised to do better than throwing wild accusations about referee bias around, however.

All it does – apart from getting him a well-deserved FA sanction – is draw attention away from some of the excellent things his team did.

Hart now holds the title

Joe Hart’s analysis of United goalkeeper Senne Lammens’ difficulties in conceding the Fulham goal was excellent on Match of the Day and bettered only by his superb dissection of Rayan Cherki’s for City against Sunderland.

The likes of Neville and Jamie Carragher on Sky continue to set the standards for soundbites and candour but when it comes to breaking down the minutiae of what actually happens on the field, Hart has established himself as the best pundit in the country.

The question is: Will the BBC be able to afford to keep him?

Wirtz problem was clear at the World Cup

Carragher went big on his criticism of Florian Wirtz, saying the German wouldn’t be in his Liverpool team to face Manchester City the other side of the international break.

I have seen marginal improvement in Wirtz this season but it still feels as though the £115million signing of summer 2025 has some big steps to take if he is ever to become a Premier League star.

Wirtz can do some wonderful things and was not without influence as Liverpool edged a close one 1-0 at Bournemouth.

But one worry is that the way he can sometimes look half a yard off the pace exactly mirrors the way he appeared to me for Germany during the World Cup.

The 23-year-old was taken off in the two World Cup games that really mattered to his country – against Ecuador and Paraguay. When Germany needed impetus and influence, they looked somewhere else.

I hope it doesn’t get to that stage at Liverpool too.

Coaching worth its weight in gold

We have only played five Premier League games but already some of our big clubs are being shamed by the likes of Brentford and Brighton.

It won’t last but it’s good to know that, for a short time at least, top-class coaching and indeed recruitment can get you ahead of those who spent large parts of the summer setting fire to money.

Scrap the Friday games

I was at the Gtech to watch one of our big spenders – Chelsea – being taught a lesson at the start of the weekend and we could talk about their deficiencies all day.

More broadly, the whole experience merely convinced me that Friday night is not a time for football.

It just doesn’t feel the same and I don’t think it ever will.

Over the years I have come to understand and appreciate the rhythms of a football weekend TV schedule that goes Saturday 12.30pm & 5.30pm and then Sunday 2pm & 4.30pm.

But Friday will always feel wrong. Friday night is a time for anticipation of the sporting weekend, a time to dream and get excited by what is to come.

I mean imagine being a Chelsea fan. You haven’t even had time to change out of your work clothes and the weekend is ruined already.

Is Cole truly committed?

Cole Palmer looked fleetingly impressive against Brentford and it’s disappointing to see him withdraw from the England squad after playing 90 minutes.

Full details will doubtless emerge but at the moment it seems the decision has been made to enable him to manage a muscle concern.

It’s a three-week international period and it’s hard not to wonder whether Palmer could not have reported to camp and played limited minutes or at the very least spent some time reintegrating himself with a squad that travelled to the World Cup without him.

It would be a surprise at this stage if he makes the England cut for the next squad in November.

And where would that leave him?

Fab for Fabio

It was uplifting to watch Fabio Carvalho come off the bench to score Brentford’s third goal.

The Portuguese midfielder is still only 24 but much has happened – not much of it good – since his early move from Fulham to Liverpool back in 2022 didn’t work out.

Carvalho has suffered injuries at Brentford and his goal on Friday was his first in the Premier League for a year and only his second since one for Liverpool back in August 2022.

I was lucky enough to spend some time with him last season and he’s a good player who cares deeply about the game.

Fingers crossed for better luck as he is a talent.

Was I wrong on Jackson?

Emi Martinez continues to look a little bemused by life at Chelsea – if Premier League crowds could stop booing all the Argentina players it would be nice – while Aston Villa may just have found an upgrade.

Zion Suzuki – Japan’s American-born international goalkeeper  – was outstanding as Villa withstood Tottenham pressure to win on Saturday lunchtime. He is only 24 so we can expect him to improve, too.

Meanwhile Nicolas Jackson gave me cause to reconsider my view after leading the line magnificently for his team and scoring a super goal.

Erratic at Chelsea, I expressed in an earlier column my amazement that Villa paid £45.5m plus add-ons for the centre forward.

But Jackson feels that being reunited with his former Villarreal coach, Unai Emery, will be the key to a good season.

‘I am with the coach I wanna be with,’ said Jackson.

We will see…