Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen are making a name for themselves with and at Aston Villa. The Villans are performing excellently in the Premier League, and the two Dutchmen are certainly playing their part.
Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen are quickly making a name for themselves with and at Aston Villa. The team is enjoying one of its strongest seasons in recent memory, and the two Dutchmen have become important figures in Unai Emery’s plans.
On Saturday, Villa travelled to St Mary’s and secured a dominant 0-3 win over Southampton, a result that not only extended their excellent run of form but also confirmed Southampton’s relegation in what has been a miserable campaign for the home side.
Maatsen, playing at left-back, delivered another standout performance. His speed and defensive awareness were instrumental in shutting down Southampton’s few attacking opportunities. The Birmingham Mail praised his display, highlighting how he used his pace on several occasions to stop counterattacks on the left flank. The newspaper gave him a rating of 8, the highest among all Aston Villa players on the day. The Daily Mail echoed this praise, awarding him a 7 and pointing out his consistency and growing maturity in a demanding role. Maatsen’s contribution to Villa’s clean sheet and his ability to combine defensive responsibility with forward runs continues to make him one of the revelations of the second half of the season.
But Maatsen wasn’t the only Dutchman making headlines. Donyell Malen came off the bench and once again found the net, scoring in his third consecutive match. His impact has been undeniable in recent weeks, and against Southampton, he once again proved to be a game-changer. The Birmingham Mail gave him a 7 and noted that Malen has clearly found his rhythm in the Premier League. The tabloid even added a touch of admiration: “Love to see it!” The Sun described his finish as “clinical” and pointed out that thanks to his goal, there was no chance of a tense finale. Sky Sports remarked that Malen was given “the freedom of the south coast” to score, such was the space left by Southampton’s broken defence. His goal led to a mass departure of home fans, a scene that has sadly become familiar at St Mary’s in recent months.
What made Malen’s goal even more special is that it was part of Premier League history. According to the BBC, Aston Villa became the first team ever to have three different substitutes score in the same Premier League match. Malen was one of those three, making the feat even more significant for him personally and for the club’s growing momentum.
While the performance and result were near perfect, there was one blemish on the day for Villa. Marco Asensio, another high-profile name in the squad, had a tough outing after missing two penalties. Despite the comfortable win, the Spanish midfielder left the pitch visibly disappointed. Unai Emery, however, was quick to defend his player, saying, “It’s normal for him to step up again after missing the first one.” The coach also clarified the team’s hierarchy for penalty takers, explaining that Marcus Rashford is the first choice, but he had already been substituted. Asensio is the second option, followed by Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, and Ollie Watkins. Emery added that he expects Asensio to continue taking penalties if the opportunity arises again, showing confidence in the player’s mentality despite the setback.
With this 0-3 result, Aston Villa solidified their place in the upper half of the table and extended their fine form, marking their fifth win in the last six Premier League matches. As for Southampton, the loss confirmed what many had already expected their relegation is now official, and it comes earlier than any other team in Premier League history. The contrast between the two sides could not be more stark. Villa look revitalised under Emery, with players like Maatsen and Malen hitting top form at just the right time. The mood is confident, the performances are clicking, and belief in European qualification is growing stronger by the week. As the season heads into its final stretch, the Dutch duo are proving to be key ingredients in Aston Villa’s resurgence.
