Aston Villa are finally showing signs of life. After a disjointed start to the season, Unai Emery’s side made it four unbeaten in the Premier League with a gritty 2-1 win over Burnley and the turnaround hasn’t been accidental. The catalyst? Pau Torres. The Spain international has quietly redefined Villa’s backline, stepping into the void left by Tyrone Mings and bringing clarity to a defence that looked lost in the opening weeks.
Torres’ reintroduction sparks shift in Emery’s tactical setup
Villa opened the season with four league games and zero goals. The structure was fractured, the midfield disconnected, and defensively, there was no rhythm. But since Torres returned to the XI, after being benched on opening day, Emery’s side have taken shape. Donyell Malen’s brace secured the points against Burnley, but Torres’ influence is evident in what doesn’t happen: fewer defensive errors, cleaner transitions, and calm control under pressure.
His first major contribution came away at Fulham, stepping in for the injured Mings. Villa were 1-0 down when Torres came on; they left with a 3-1 win. Since then, he’s started every match in a run that includes Europa League shutouts against Bologna and Feyenoord. The numbers are no accident: Torres brings balance, and right now, that’s exactly what Villa need.
The Mings question: Has Torres made the position his own?
Tyrone Mings’ injury was a blow, but it may have simplified Emery’s biggest selection dilemma. Ezri Konsa remains locked in on the right, while the left-sided role has been a tussle between two very different profiles. Mings is a physical presence, dominant aerially but sometimes erratic in possession. Torres, by contrast, offers composure, left-footed balance, and European experience: 23 caps for Spain, 57 Premier League games, 21 in the Champions League.
Villa went 316 minutes without conceding with Torres on the pitch before Burnley’s Lesley Ugochukwu pulled one back. And even then, Torres wasn’t at fault. The structure remained intact. It’s not hyperbole to say that, right now, the former Villarreal man is the most influential figure in Villa’s defensive setup.
Author Opinion: Torres isn’t just filling in, he’s defining Villa’s ceiling
This isn’t just about solidifying the defence. Emery’s system relies on playing out from the back, dictating tempo, and inviting pressure before breaking lines. With Torres in the side, that pattern is visible. Without him, Villa look unsure. His partnership with Konsa has given the midfield a platform, and suddenly Villa’s European ambitions, once optimistic, now feel realistic.
Let’s be blunt: the Pau Torres that was benched at the start of the season wouldn’t recognise the Pau Torres we’re watching now. He’s not just back, he’s essential. And if Villa are serious about qualifying for Europe, there’s no going back. The left centre-back spot belongs to him now. Mings or not, the standard has shifted.
