UNAI FAVOURITE STILL SPLITS THE VILLA FAITHFULL

PAU Torres has become one of the more divisive Aston Villa players among the fan base.

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Despite playing a key role in the club's rise under Unai Emery, the Spaniard has come under fire for his perceived defensive flaws, which many claim Tyrone Mings makes up for when he plays in the team instead.

There's no doubting Torres' ability in possession, which is a major reason why Emery fought to sign him two summers ago.

In his first season, Torres' place in the side was guaranteed as Mings suffered a serious knee injury on the opening weekend of the campaign.

Last term, however, Mings impressed on his return and didn't taste defeat in the 14 Premier League games he played.

Not playing Mings against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals and at Manchester United on the final day of the season were mistakes, even though Torres' inclusion certainly wasn't the only reason for those disappointing performances.

In a discussion with fans on the Claret & Blue podcast, Mercury sports writers John Townley and Dan Rolinson debated the best central defensive partnership heading into the new season.