Aston Villa's incredible home form could provide a platform for a run at the Champions League spots in the Premier League this season.
A 4-1 hammering of West Ham on Sunday made it four straight wins – and 17 goals in the process – for Unai Emery's team in its four matches at Villa Park so far.
Villa moved a point off the top four after nine games and have a couple of players in great scoring form.
Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz scored twice and England striker Ollie Watkins added another, with both moving on to five for the campaign. Substitute Leon Bailey also netted for Villa.
Luiz drove home the 30th-minute opener from the edge of the area after a lay-off from Watkins before converting a penalty in the 51st following Nayef Aguerd’s trip on Ezri Konsa.
Jarrod Bowen pulled a goal back for West Ham in the 56th when his long-range shot deflected off Pau Torres and span into the far corner.
Nicolo Zaniolo started and played 76 minutes despite the Italy international being involved in a betting investigation in his home country.
Villa said ahead of the game that Zaniolo “is assisting the Italian Football Federation and the relevant authorities’ investigation into alleged illegal betting activity”.
Zaniolo and Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali were sent back to their clubs from Italy's training camp this month after being notified by police of involvement in the probe.
Villa's Man of the Match, Douglas Luiz, said: "I'm really happy. The fans push us and it's incredible.
"I like fishing so much. When I go to Brazil, every time we go fishing, this celebration is for my friends and my family, who I go with.
Aston Villa's Leon Bailey celebrates scoring their fourth goal. Reuters
Aston Villa's Leon Bailey scores their fourth. Reuters
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa scores their third goal past Alphonse Areola of West Ham United. Getty
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring their third. PA
Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United scores their first goal against Aston Villa. Getty
West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen celebrates scoring their first goal. Action Images
Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz scores his side's second goal from the penalty spot. AP
Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa celebrates after scoring his team's second goal in the 4-1 Premier League victory against West Ham United at Villa Park on Sunday, October 22, 2023. Getty
Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery, right, reacts next to West Ham's manager David Moyes. AP
Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa is fouled by Edson Alvarez of West Ham United to earn a penalty. Getty
Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa celebrates after scoring their first goal against West Ham United. Getty
Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz celebrates scoring their first goal with Moussa Diaby, Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara. Action Images
Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa celebrates after scoring the team's first goal. Getty
Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz, second from right, scores his side's opening goal. AP
West Ham United goalkeeper Alphonse Areola saves a shot. AFP
Players and fans observe a minute's applause for late England and Manchester United midfield great Bobby Charlton. AFP
"In the last season we spoke a lot about who takes the penalties. I took responsibility of it. I'm so happy to continue to score."
Fellow goalscorer Bailey said: "The atmosphere here today was brilliant. It's not just for us, it's for our fans. They can enjoy coming to the stadium and seeing a victory.
"It gives us a lot of confidence. It can be special. Hopefully we can continue to work this way. We are getting results for the work.
"The teams is great. Even the players who come off from the bench understand their roles. It's about showing your ability. I think I did that with my goal today so I'm very grateful for that.
"The sky is the limit for us. We have to stay focus. We need to move onto the next game. We have an important game on Thursday so we need to look at what's next."
West Ham manager David Moyes said: "We weren't as resolute as we have been and we need to be harder to play against but we were up against a really good Aston Villa side.
"We didn't do well in the final third. There were opportunities to pick people out. We had a few chances in the first half but didn't pick people out.
"We were narrowly down at half-time and we came out hoping to get ourselves back in it then gave away a stupid penalty."
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Bookshops: A Reader's History by Jorge Carrión (translated from the Spanish by Peter Bush),
Biblioasis
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
