Aston Villa fans overjoyed by what they have just realised about £12.7m Crystal Palace player, it is ‘huge’

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Aston Villa fans have been busy this morning.

Supporters across England are closely examining the fixture list after the Premier League released the schedule for next season, and Aston Villa fans have noticed something interesting about Ismaila Sarr for the trip to Crystal Palace on 7th January.

Aston Villa fans delighted as Ismaila Sarr set to miss Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa

The Crystal Palace No.7 will be away with Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations when this Premier League clash takes place, a fact Aston Villa fans are very pleased about after what happened last season.

Sarr tormented the Villans last term following his £12.7m move to SE25 from Marseille, scoring five goals and providing two assists in just three games against Aston Villa, with three of those goal involvements coming in the FA Cup semi-final alone.

One Aston Villa fan kicked off the conversation on X (previously known as Twitter) by posting a GIF of Emiliano Martinez celebrating, along with the caption “Ismaila Sarr (is) at AFCON when we go to Selhurst” after making the realisation.

Others joined @FPLVillan in cheering this discovery, writing “HUGE” and “MASSIVE” in the comments section of the initial post, the capital letters only adding to their relief that Sarr – who Aston Villa almost signed in 2022 – is highly unlikely to feature.

Another wrote a more lengthy response, posting as a quoted reply: “Lads, forget the Christmas period, this is the sort of eye for detail that is needed on fixture release day. Love it.”

A fifth and sixth Aston Villa supporter posted “SCENES” and “absolute scenes” in joy at the realisation too.

Aston Villa still need to be wary of Jean-Philippe Mateta

While Sarr being absent is undoubtedly a boost for Unai Emery, as a bogey player for Aston Villa misses out, the Villans still need to find a way to keep Jean-Philippe Mateta quiet.

The Frenchman boasts a superb record against Aston Villa, scoring more goals against them than any other English side during his career with five strikes in nine appearances, also providing four assists.

Throughout his entire career, Mateta – who is close to signing a new contract with Crystal Palace – has only scored more goals against SC Freiburg with eight in four games.

It goes without saying that Eberechi Eze is also a danger man for Oliver Glasner, so even without Sarr to call upon, Crystal Palace will pose a threat to Aston Villa.