Aston Villa’s dismal slump in the Premier League continued last night, after falling to a 2-0 defeat to bottom-of-the table side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Goals from Joao Gomes and Rodrigo Gomes in the second half were enough to secure just a second league win for the hosts, whilst extending Unai Emery’s recent poor run in England’s top-flight.
Such a result now only makes it one league win in the last five for the Villans, which has no doubt impacted their efforts to secure Champions League football for next season.
Unai Emery manager of Aston Villa during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa
The Spaniard’s side now sit six points clear of fifth-place Chelsea, but such a gap could be halved tomorrow, with the Blues travelling to face league leaders Arsenal.
Numerous players failed to deliver during the disappointing defeat at Molineux, which could lead to Emery making huge changes to his side in the weeks ahead.
Aston Villa’s poor performers against Wolves
Despite failing to impress against Leeds United last weekend, Emery once again handed a start to winger Emi Buendia during Villa’s latest defeat to Wolves.
However, the Argentine was unable to take advantage of his start, as seen by his tally of just 25% duels won - with the hosts often nullifying the threat the attacker posed.
BUENDIA
In possession, the 29-year-old was just as ineffective, subsequently registering just two touches in the opposition box, along with zero dribbles completed at Molineux.
He wasn’t alone in struggling during the defeat, with striker Ollie Watkins once again failing to find the back of the net for the sixth game in a row across all competitions.
The Englishman’s lack of impact against Wolves was further evident in his tally of 100% duels lost, and eight times possession lost - which demonstrates his wastefulness with the ball.
Other tallies, such as just 24 touches and just 11 passes completed, further demonstrate his struggles, with Emery unable to rely upon his talisman in recent weeks.
The Villa star who must never start under Emery again
As previously mentioned, Villa’s recent slump in the Premier League will be a huge concern to Emery, especially given the form his side previously demonstrated.
unai-emery-aston-villa-premier-league
His side were even touted to be in contention for a title race at one stage of the campaign, but the real fight should now be to secure a place in the division’s top four.
However, if the Villans are to ensure they finish in such a position, the manager will have to make some huge selection calls between now and the end of the season.
One player who simply must be dropped from his starting eleven is left-back Lucas Digne, who once again failed to deliver despite the continued faith shown in him.
The Frenchman has come under huge scrutiny over recent weeks, especially after the 1-1 draw away at Bournemouth, after allowing the opposition to ghost into the box and fire home to secure a point.
lucas-digne-aston-villa
However, Emery has decided to stick by the 32-year-old during recent matches, but it’s a decision that appears to have been the wrong one - as seen at Molineux last night.
Digne was selected ahead of Ian Maatsen once again for the Villans, but his underlying stats showcase the struggles he faced against the division’s bottom side.
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The defender featured for 70 minutes before being withdrawn, after losing 100% of the duels he entered in the West Midlands, whilst also failing to win any of the tackles he entered.
He also only managed to complete 20% of the crosses he attempted, whilst making just three passes into the final third - ultimately failing to have an impact within attacking areas.
Lucas-digne-aston-villa
Lucas-digne-aston-villa
Digne’s struggles were further reflected in his inability to create any chances for his teammates, whilst also committing a foul and struggling to contain the opposition.
As a result, the defender was handed a measly 3/10 match rating, which further highlights his struggles and demonstrates why the manager needs to make changes to his side.
Aston Villa player ratings against Wolves
Player
Emi Martinez
Matty Cash
Ezri Konsa
Pau Torres
Lucas Digne
Amadou Onana
Douglas Luiz
Jadon Sancho
Morgan Rogers
Emi Buendia
Ollie Watkins
There’s no denying that the Frenchman has failed to live up to expectations in recent weeks, which has no doubt contributed to the club’s struggles in the Premier League.
At 32, he’s no longer at the level needed for success in England’s top-flight, with Emery needing to utilise the likes of Maatsen ahead of him in the near future.
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