Villa's best squad is a benchmark for Emery

UNAI Emery had no room for £63million worth of players in his 18-man squad that dished out a lesson in black and white.

- By Neil Moxley

Aston Villa's head coach had to pull Leon Bailey and Pau Torres to one side before kick-off to tell them the bad news. That in itself is staggering.

But a glance at the strength of his substitutes' bench on Saturday night reinforced the feeling that this is the best squad Villa Park has ever seen.

His record signing Amadou Onana (£50m) was joined by Lucas Digne (£25m) and Donnyell Malen (£18m) in waiting for the call to action.

And how can you put a value on Marcus Rashford or Jacob Ramsey, who were also sitting on the bench?

Add Axel Disasi and Ross Barkley, who made the 18-man cut, and there is some serious talent waiting in the wings.