Aston Villa manager Unai Emery may be tempted to repeat a method that was successful earlier in the season to encourage one star to continue his form.
It’s been a difficult few weeks for Aston Villa, who have won just one of their previous five Premier League fixtures in the run-in to the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
Unai Emery will hope that his side can rediscover their form quickly, however, a great challenge awaits as Arsenal come next in the league at the Emirates.
Last week saw the Midlands club secure one point from a possible six, losing to Manchester City and drawing to Brentford, conceding a concerning seven goals over the two fixtures.
Considering that Arsenal have conceded only four goals since the start of 2024, it will be a significant challenge for Emery to break down his former club, however, one player could hold the keys to unlock the Gunners.
Unai Emery must continue to get the best out of Leon Bailey
Many Aston Villa players have proven themselves to Emery this season, not many more than Leon Bailey, who has turned his time at Villa Park around this term.
The Jamaican lacked the consistency to be regarded as a reliable asset for the Villans after making the move from Bayer Leverkusen back in 2021.
This season, Bailey has proven just why the club decided to sign him, becoming one of Emery’s key players thanks to his magnificent play on the right, seeing him contribute to 16 Premier League goals so far this term.
While the 26-year-old has left defenders spellbound by his “unpredictable” approach to play this term, as lauded by Lucy Ward, the winger may soon require some tough love from Emery.
What Unai Emery could now do to push Leon Bailey
One thing that is a slight concern for the Villans is that the Jamaica international hasn’t scored in over a month in the Premier League, with his last goal coming against Luton Town six games ago.
The largest gap between scoring this season prior to the current dip was four games, which could see Emery resort to a harsh, but effective coaching method that has worked on Bailey before.
With heavy fixtures coming up, the manager could be tempted to drop the 26-year-old to the bench to encourage him to rediscover his scoring form, particularly at a time when rotation could benefit others at the club.
Moussa Diaby missed out on a starting spot against Brentford on Saturday, a decision that was questionable after the Frenchman contributed to three goals over the three games prior to the fixture.
Giving Bailey a goal to work on has worked to Emery’s delight in the past, as the Jamaican was forced to show his worth at the start of the season as he had to audition for a starting spot.
READ MORE about Leon Bailey here
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