Tag: Anwar El Ghazi

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EVERTON SIGN WINGER ANWAR EL GHAZI ON LOAN FROM ASTON VILLA

Everton have announced the signing of Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi on loan for the rest of the season.

The 26-year-old Dutchman becomes the third new recruit for the Toffees in the current transfer window, following the arrivals of full-backs Vitalii Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson on permanent deals.

El Ghazi told evertontv: “I’m really excited. Everton is a big club, I cannot wait to get started.

“I want to show my quality to my teammates, to the club and, of course, the fans. I want to put a smile on their faces. I’m ready and willing to work hard for it and for all of us to work together.

“I just want to focus on working hard, getting into the team, fighting for my place and, with the boys, to get Everton where it belongs – that is much higher up the table. We have a really good squad.”

Everton – currently 15th in the Premier League table – confirmed the El Ghazi transfer hours after it was announced left-back Lucas Digne had departed the club to sign for Villa.

El Ghazi joined the midlands outfit on loan from Lille in the summer of 2018, with the switch then being made permanent a year later after he had helped Villa gain promotion via the Championship play-offs, scoring in the final.

He has since made 71 Premier League appearances, registering 15 goals, including the winner in a 2-1 victory at Everton in May 2021.

El Ghazi – holder of two Holland caps – added: “I can always score a goal in an important moment. I can add a lot of value with my pace and technique going forward. I can hold the ball and I am decent in one-on-ones. I am ready and can’t wait.

“If I can score goals like the one I scored against Everton, for Everton now, then I will be a happy man.

“I will work hard and give everything I have. That is the least you can expect from a player. That is what I will start with and from there hopefully I will be able to score goals and give assists.”

El Ghazi could make his Everton debut when Rafael Benitez’s men face Norwich away on Saturday.

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EPL: EL GHAZI EARLY GOAL FIRES ASTON VILLA TO VICTORY AT LEEDS

Anwar El Ghazi’s early goal clinched Aston Villa a 1-0 win at Leeds and lifted his side to within a point of the Premier League’s top six.

El Ghazi was left unmarked to turn home the only goal from close range in the fifth minute and dogged defending saw Villa avenge their 3-0 home defeat to Leeds in October.

Villa secured just their second win in seven league games on the road, while Leeds’ see-saw first season back in the top flight continued.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side were denied back-to-back home wins after Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat of Southampton and were rarely allowed to hit the same heights.

When Raphinha went close to scoring inside the opening 30 seconds – he just failed to connect with Patrick Bamford’s cross – it appeared this would be another game at Elland Road this season that you could not take your eyes off.

But while it ebbed and flowed in the first half, Villa shut down their opponents after the interval and for Leeds the game ended in a whimper.

Villa had a penalty appeal turned down when a corner struck Luke Ayling on his arm and then capitalised on sloppy Leeds defending to take a fifth-minute lead.

Ollie Watkins slipped as he fired at goal, but the ball found its way to the unmarked El Ghazi on the six-yard box and although he too lost his footing, he steered home his sixth league goal of the season.

Leeds responded through Tyler Roberts, but his thumping effort was well saved by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and then El Ghazi twice went close to extending Villa’s lead.

The Dutchman’s first shot was tipped over the crossbar by Illan Meslier and he pulled his second, a low effort, just wide.

Stuart Dallas fired in a low shot and home skipper Liam Cooper headed straight at Martinez as Leeds chased an equaliser.

El Ghazi maintained his shoot-on-sight policy, but was wayward with another effort and at the other end Helder Costa’s low shot was blocked and Roberts fired over, with Leeds restricted to half-chances as half-time beckoned.

Leeds continued to force the issue at the start of the second period, but the killer pass eluded them.

Cooper did just enough to divert Villa captain Tyrone Mings’ header wide from a corner, but the free-flowing action before the break made way for a more scrappy affair.

Villa doggedly defended their slender lead and both sides were guilty of halting play with niggling fouls.

Leeds struggled to break down a resilient defence and when substitute Jack Harrison’s late cross offered them their best chance of rescuing a point, Raphinha fluffed his header.

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CHE 1-1 AVL: EL-GHAZI EXTENDS ASTON VILLA UNBEATEN RUN.

Anwar El Ghazi’s second-half goal earned Aston Villa a 1-1 draw at Chelsea to extend their unbeaten league run to five matches.

Chelsea made a strong start with Christian Pulisic twice coming close to scoring, firing into the side-netting and then hooking over from close range.

Olivier Giroud broke the deadlock for Chelsea with 11 first-half minutes remaining.

The Frenchman met Ben Chilwell’s cross with a diving header to stretch his run of scoring against Villa to seven straight league matches.

But Villa struck back through El Ghazi, who met Matty Cash’s cross six yards out to score his fifth goal in five matches.

Both teams pushed for a winner without success, John McGinn thumping the crossbar from range and Chilwell volleying a fraction wide in second-half stoppage time.

The result takes Villa to fifth with 26 points, one fewer than fourth-placed Manchester United.

Chelsea are just behind them on goal difference, having played two matches more.

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EL GHAZI INSPIRES IMPRESSIVE ASTON VILLA WIN AGAINST WESTBROM, GIVES ALLARDYCE A NIGHTMARISH START.

A brace from Anwar El Ghazi and a second-half Bertrand Traore strike gave Aston Villa a 3-0 win over West Brom in the Premier League on Sunday, handing new Baggies boss Sam Allardyce a defeat in his first game in charge.

Allardyce replaced the sacked Slaven Bilic in midweek, but there was little he could do as his side went behind when El Ghazi deftly steered home Traore’s cross at the far post in the fifth minute.

West Brom had captain Jake Livermore sent off following a VAR review for a reckless tackle on Jack Grealish, and Allardyce’s new charges barely threatened after that, managing a single shot in the whole game.

Traore added a second goal six minutes from time and El Ghazi slotted home a late penalty to secure a win that lifts Villa to ninth spot on 22 points after 12 games.

Meanwhile, West Brom remain second from bottom with seven points from 14 games.

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WOLVES 0-1 A.VILLA: EL GHAZI LATE PENALTY GIVE VILLA THREE POINTS.

Anwar El Ghazi’s stoppage-time penalty and Emiliano Martinez’s saves helped Aston Villa bounce back from two straight defeats to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0.

In a first half of few clear chances, Ezri Konsa headed just wide for Villa, while Daniel Podence forced a fine save from Martinez.

After the break, Fabio Silva came close to his first Wolves goal but saw his strike hit a post, while Martinez brilliantly denied Leander Dendoncker from close range.

With five minutes remaining, Douglas Luiz was dismissed after a second yellow card, one of 11 in the match.

Villa’s penalty came as Nelson Semedo brought down John McGinn and substitute El Ghazi converted.

Wolves then had Joao Moutinho sent off for a second booking as defeat drops them to 11th on 17 points.

A fourth away win in five matches takes Villa up to eighth on 18 points.