Martinez’s brilliance and Everton’s wastefulness keep Villa’s drought alive in bruising stalemate

Everton and Aston Villa fought out a scrappy, ill-tempered 0-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium that said plenty about both teams’ current truths. Everton dominated the territory and the shot count, but a pair of glaring misses from Beto and a string of outstanding saves from Emiliano Martinez kept the scoreboard unmoved. The returning Villa goalkeeper denied Jack Grealish and then, most dramatically, turned away Michael Keane’s close-range header to preserve a point.

Villa rarely threatened but almost stole it when Emiliano Buendia’s second-half strike deflected off James Tarkowski and skidded narrowly wide with Jordan Pickford scrambling. The result extends Villa’s Premier League goal drought to four matches and 467 minutes and leaves them 19th. Everton, who would have gone level with Arsenal and Liverpool with a win, remain fifth after a performance full of control but short on finishing.

Everton in control, Villa in survival mode

David Moyes’ side put their stamp on the game early, channelling attacks through Iliman Ndiaye and Grealish, the Premier League’s newly crowned player of the month. Everton finished with a 20-6 shot advantage and repeatedly worked promising positions, most notably when Grealish’s service twice located Keane in the area.

That superiority was undermined by a stop-start rhythm that turned the contest scrappy and ill-tempered, with frustration inside Hill Dickinson aimed largely at referee Simon Hooper. Villa, off-colour for long stretches, retreated into a defensive posture and leaned on their goalkeeper to get them through the roughest patches.

Martinez’s return steals the spotlight

Back between the posts after speculation around a failed move before the transfer deadline, Martinez delivered the game’s defining moments. He plunged to keep out a low Grealish drive and, after the interval, showed elite reactions to tip Keane’s point-blank header away when a breakthrough seemed inevitable.

At full time he was the last down the tunnel, waving to supporters and tapping the badge. Unai Emery was effusive: 'It’s a good point and a lot of things were positive. Emiliano did a fantastic job and saved us lots of time. Overall we competed… We were defending and were disciplined. Then we have to improve offensively as we are not scoring goals.'

Grealish and Ndiaye provide the spark; finishing falls short

Grealish’s subplot against his former club powered much of Everton’s best work. Tracked by two or three claret shirts at a time and serenaded by a half-hearted 'You’re not super any more' from the away end, he teased defenders and supplied. One exquisite cross produced Keane’s best header, which Martinez smothered, and a second delivery found the defender stretching but unable to turn in. Earlier, a low Grealish effort had also been beaten away by the goalkeeper.

Ndiaye, too, probed to effect, sliding a first-minute ball across an open goal that Beto miskicked. The striker’s afternoon never settled: a shot that struck his standing leg, an avoidable offside, then only the slightest contact on a James Garner cross after the break. Withdrawn 15 minutes from time, Beto made way for Thierno Barry, who nearly won it late before Tyrone Mings’ block. Summer arrivals Merlin Rohl (Everton) and Harvey Elliott (Villa) also debuted but could not alter the plot.

Villa’s drought and Emery’s dilemma

Villa’s issues in the final third remain stark. They mustered only one effort on target and 0.31 expected goals; their most dangerous moment came when Buendia’s drive spun off Tarkowski and dribbled wide with Pickford beaten. A scuffed outside-of-the-foot attempt from Morgan Rogers summed up a first half that lacked zip, while Ollie Watkins and Rogers were frequently isolated.

Youri Tielemans’ injury forced Emery into a half-time change, introducing forward Evann Guessand to add presence. There was a modest uptick, and Elliott’s late debut added fresh legs, but Villa still looked a shadow of the vibrant side of recent seasons. Emery could take solace in organisation and commitment; the search for goals continues.

What it means and what’s next

Moyes called it 'a brilliant performance' and admitted Everton felt 'a bit unlucky not to come away with three points.' The display underlined progress, even if talk of Europe remains premature. The Toffees stay fifth and head to Anfield for the Merseyside derby on 20 September before a Carabao Cup third-round tie at Wolves on 23 September.

Emery accepted the point as necessary to keep going and said his team are 'recovering our positivity.' Villa remain 19th and go to Brentford in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, then to Sunderland in the league on 21 September. The clean sheet and Martinez’s form offer a platform; the drought is the problem to solve.