Aston Villa tactics: Four challenges for Unai Emery’s faltering Premier League side
Winger Leon Bailey has only scored two goals in the Premier League after scoring 19 in 2023-24. along with Moussa Diaby on sale for £50m – Involved in 14 goals – Villa’s creativity has declined.
They could really use Ian Maatsen’s running back as so many of Villa’s games at the moment are run through the excellent Morgan Rogers.
Emery has recently tried to change that, hiring Jon Duran to play alongside Ollie Watkins.
However, Rodgers – or Diaby last year – could link midfield and attack, but Villa’s forwards tended to create wider gaps between the defences, causing Spurs to collapse in the second half and lose 4-1. .
Spurs scored twice within 10 minutes after Duran replaced Rodgers, and the game became tense after that, with Villa’s two frontcourt players – both driving forward – pulling the team vertically. , and cleared the midfield.
This allowed Tottenham to break into space numerous times and score almost at will.