Gabby Agbonlahor made a spirited appearance on The Sports Bar, celebrating Aston Villa's impressive progression to the Champions League knockout stages. Following a thrilling 4-2 victory over Celtic on Wednesday night, Villa secured their place in the last 16 of the prestigious tournament, having finished eighth in the Premier League last season.
Morgan Rogers delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a hat-trick, complemented by a goal from Ollie Watkins, which propelled Villa into the next round of the competition, set to commence next month. Agbonlahor, a former striker for the club, was visibly elated as he relished the achievement of his team breaking into the top eight of the league.
During the show, as reported by talkSPORT, Agbonlahor made a dramatic entrance, startling his co-host Jamie O'Hara, who was on a call with a listener at the time. With palpable excitement, Agbonlahor shouted, "Up the Villa!" This prompted laughter from fellow presenter Jason Cundy, while O'Hara, clearly surprised, remarked, "You scared the life out of me!"
In a live Instagram stream, Agbonlahor wore a broad smile, reveling in Villa's success on the European stage. He playfully addressed Cundy, reminiscing about their previous encounters, stating, "Cundy, you guys in Monaco [after their 1-0 defeat], you were spiteful to me. I've been waiting for this moment Jamie!" Both Agbonlahor and Cundy joyfully chanted "Up the Villa!" as O'Hara, a Celtic supporter, attempted to regain his composure amidst the celebration.
"What an amazing result from Villa," Agbonlahor noted. "Jokes aside, it's not even about the two less games in February. It's worth £11 million more to Aston Villa, that's the difference."
With their Champions League journey underway, Aston Villa now stands on the brink of facing one of four potential opponents in the last 16: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon, or Club Brugge. However, the club may be facing challenges with the impending transfer of Jhon Duran, who is reportedly nearing a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr. An agreement has been suggested for an initial fee of £64.5 million, with potential add-ons that could elevate the total to £75 million.
Duran's potential exit could have significant implications for Ollie Watkins, especially with Arsenal expressing interest in acquiring the striker. Although Watkins, a lifelong supporter of the Gunners, is reportedly open to a move, Villa has firmly declined their offer, wishing to retain the talented forward as they navigate the Champions League.