'Might be shocked' - Aston Villa fired warning by club legend ahead of West Ham season opener

Aston Villa legend Gabriel Agbonlahor has warned his former side to prepare for the unexpected against West Ham this weekend as the Premier League returns with a bang.

The meeting between the Hammers and the Villains is set to be one of the opening Gameweek's most intriguing line-ups. The hosts are buoyed by the arrival of new head coach Julen Lopetegui while the visitors were the surprise package in the division last time out as they secured European football.

Both sides have been busy in the summer transfer window, splurging the cash ahead of the Premier League's return. West Ham have recruited the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Max Kilman, Niclas Fullkrug, Guido Rodriguez and Luis Guilherme with Aaron Wan-Bissaka also joining the ranks from Manchester United this week.

Meanwhile, in the Midlands, Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen, Cameron Archer, Samuel Iling-Junior, Jaden Philogene and Ross Barkley have all been snapped up ahead of a season of Champions League football. With so many new faces, it's set to be a blockbuster meeting at the London Stadium.

Speaking to AceOdds, Agbonlahor fired a warning to Aston Villa and admitted that it could be the worst time to face an unknown Lopetegui West Ham side. Predicting a 1-1 draw, he said: "You'd rather play West Ham after five, or six games, not their first game. Lopetegui's first game at the West Ham stadium, it's going to be really, really tough. They're going to have a new manager bounce.

"Everyone's going to be on a level playing field. They know they have to perform in his first game because he’ll make changes for the second game and they're all going to want to impress the manager. Like I said as well, their exciting new signings are going to want to get off to an exciting start as well.

"And what football are they going to play? We're used to West Ham maybe sitting back under David Moyes and counter-attack, Aston Villa might be shocked with the way West Ham line up and they're right on you from the start. So, definitely a tough game and I'm sure Unai Emery will be making preparations for this game knowing Lopetegui very well."