Aston Villa tactics: Four challenges for Unai Emery’s faltering Premier League side

Winger Leon Bailey has just two goal involvements in the Premier League after hitting 19 in 2023-24. With the £50m sale of Moussa Diaby – who managed 14 goal involvements – Villa’s creative output has reduced.

They could really do with Ian Maatsen’s movement in behind, because at the moment too much of Villa’s play is funnelled through the excellent Morgan Rogers.

Emery has tried to shake this up recently, bringing on Jhon Duran to play alongside Ollie Watkins.

But whereas Rogers – or Diaby last year – can link midfield and attack, Villa’s strikers tend to create bigger gaps between the lines, prompting that second-half collapse at Spurs, losing 4-1.

Spurs scored twice within 10 minutes of Duran coming on for Rogers, after which the game became stretched as Villa’s front two – both making forward runs – pulled the team lengthways and emptied midfield.

It allowed Tottenham to repeatedly drive through open spaces and score almost at will.