Aston Villa return to action in the Premier League this afternoon, giving Unai Emery a decision to make when selecting his XI to face his former club Arsenal at the Emirates.
It’s poised to be a thrilling afternoon between Aston Villa and Arsenal, as both sides hunt for a crucial three points in North London.
The Gunners will require three points to keep up with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool in the title race, while Unai Emery’s side will aim to capitalise on Tottenham’s inability to win yesterday to reclaim fourth place.
The Spaniard will hope to return to his former club and claim a win, just as his side did at Villa Park earlier in the season however, Mikel Arteta’s squad have hit searing form in 2024, leaving Emery to evaluate the best way for his XI to break down the Gunners.
Aston Villa team news vs Arsenal
While there has been some positive news on the injury front regarding the return of Matty Cash and Clement Lenglet, there will be a significant void for Emery to fill in the midfield.
Read the latest Aston Villa injury news here
Last week against Brentford, Douglas Luiz picked up a cynical 97th-minute booking to confirm a two-match suspension, earning 10 yellow cards in the 2023/24 campaign.
The Brazilian will now be absent against Arsenal this afternoon, in what will be a detrimental loss to Villa, who are already short on defensive midfield resources due to the injury of Boubacar Kamara.
In a test as significant as facing the Gunners away from home, Emery could now look to make a bold switch in personnel to absorb the pressure that the hosts will undoubtedly exert.
Why Unai Emery must now unleash Tim Iroegbunam against Arsenal
With Kamara out, the boss has been playing the likes of John McGinn and Youri Tielemans alongside Luiz, who is now also out of contention for the trip to North London.
As documented yesterday, McGinn’s strengths may be more useful in the advanced areas, leaving the manager with a decision to make when it comes to who to play in midfield.
Tielemans has previously been branded as a player capable of being “bullied” in the middle, giving Emery a thought when it comes to unleashing young Tim Iroegbunam in his place.
While the 20-year-old lacks experience in the Premier League, he has greater experience at playing the deeper role in midfield than the likes of Tielemans, who cannot risk being exposed against Arsenal.
Lauded as “terrific” in the past by Steven Gerrard, the Englishman has proven his worth defensively in the engine room, particularly during his loan spell at Queens Park Rangers last season, as highlighted by his statistics.
Tim Iroegbunam 2022/23 Championship statistics:
- Tackles per game: 2.0
- Interceptions per game: 0.8
- Total duels won per game: 5.2
Given the absence of Luiz, and the importance of his presence in Emery’s squad, the manager must look to fill the combative void left by the Brazilian, a challenge that Iroegbunam could take in his stride.
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