Senior Football Journalist psmithXI. The striker had stepped off the bench in place of Ollie Watkins, struck Villa's winner and apologetically celebrated in front of the travelling fans at the London Stadium.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. It was just a few weeks on from Duran making an 'Irons' sign during a livestream as West Ham pursued a move for the Colombian - but that demonstration to the Villa supporters seemed to say which team in claret and blue he wanted to play for. However, as the sides prepare to meet again, live on Sky Sports on Sunday , Duran and a potential move to West Ham is once again making headlines.
Back in August, Emery had admitted the club were open to a 'good offer' for Duran and that remains - but Duran's value has risen. He has scored 12 goals in 28 appearances this season, including that stunner against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Of players to have hit the net multiple times in the Premier League this season, he has the best strike rate per 90 minutes.
Significantly, Duran also put pen to paper on a new Villa contract in the days after that Bayern screamer, a deal which runs until West Ham aren't the only club in search of a goal-scoring frontman in this window and a player of Duran's skillset is in short supply. Back on that curtain-raising Saturday, the Spanish coach harnessed the attributes of Watkins and Duran effectively.
The England man, short on conditioning after a delayed return from the Euros campaign, stretched the Hammers for the first hour. Then Duran arrived to finish them off. But Duran is an ambitious young man. And I think I'm on my way to that.
