Adrian Clarke looks at the key tactical points and players who can make an impact in Week 33.
Team breakdown – Aston Villa
In the absence of the suspended Douglas Luiz, we will rely on John McGinn to contain Aston Villa’s midfield at the Emirates Stadium this Sunday.
The experienced Scot has spent most of 2023/24 operating as a winger or No.10, but Unai Emery will almost certainly need McGinn to play a more central role at Arsenal.
Villa will be without talismanic Brazilian Douglas Luiz, as well as first-choice central midfielder Boubacar Kamara, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
This classy duo have set the platform for a stunning start to the season which could see the club clinch a surprise top four finish.
To be competitive in north London, 29-year-old McGinn – a fixture in their midfield for five consecutive top-flight campaigns – must muster all his spirit to ensure he is not outclassed on the pitch.
Always a central figure
McGinn has developed into a very strong midfielder for Villa.
Tactically intelligent, aggressive, physically strong in his duels and capable of influencing matches through creativity in the final third, the Scotland international will be a vital presence on Sunday.
Wherever he’s deployed, McGinn tends to gravitate toward the center areas, as this passing zone map below for this season highlights.
So if he is asked to play as a defensive midfielder or in a box-to-box role at the Emirates Stadium, the positions he occupies will certainly not be unfamiliar to him.
One or both of Youri Tielemans and Nicolo Zaniolo could start alongside him in central midfield as they are the only other senior midfielders fit and available to play.
What is missing from the Villa?
As a partnership, Kamara and Douglas Luiz combine excellent defensive work with classy contributions on the ball.
Integral to Emery’s style of play, which so often focuses on holding up the line and crowding the middle third, their complementary styles add great value.
Douglas Luiz has won more tackles, with 36, and ball recoveries (169) than any other Villa player, and has also contributed significantly at the other end of the pitch, with nine goals and five assists.
Kamara is also an excellent ball winner who often drops back into his own defensive third to break up play when under pressure.
Possession won in the defensive third | Possession won in the middle third |
---|---|
Pau Torres 3.08 | John McGinn 2.48 |
Boubacar Kamara 2.60 | Boubacar Kamara 2.44 |
Douglas Louise 2.57 | Douglas Louise 2.40 |
Arguably, Villa’s two best performances of the season so far have been the 1-0 win at home to Manchester City and the 2-1 success at Tottenham.
On both occasions, Douglas Luiz (No.6) was a prominent figure when he jumped out to create turnovers in the opposition half, with Kamara (44) excellent as a defensive lynchpin.
Douglas Luiz and Kamara win reverses against Manchester City (H)
![Upheavals Aston Villa - Manchester City (H)](https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2024/04/11/b0d74e66-d86f-4b84-9b43-a81188d76411/AVL-turnovers-v-Man-City.jpg?width=1400&height=800)
![Upheavals Aston Villa - Manchester City (H)](https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2024/04/11/b0d74e66-d86f-4b84-9b43-a81188d76411/AVL-turnovers-v-Man-City.jpg?width=1400&height=800)
Douglas Luiz and Kamara win turnovers against Spurs (A)
![Upheavals Aston Villa - Spurs (A)](https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2024/04/11/369dd280-7176-4442-8e73-1dc792971d98/AVL-turnovers-v-Spurs-a-.jpg?width=1400&height=800)
![Upheavals Aston Villa - Spurs (A)](https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2024/04/11/369dd280-7176-4442-8e73-1dc792971d98/AVL-turnovers-v-Spurs-a-.jpg?width=1400&height=800)
The onus will be on McGinn and Tielemans to repeat the high standards set in those impressive wins.
In fairness to McGinn, he doesn’t shy away from his defensive duties. No one in Emery’s team wins more duels per 90 minutes.
Player | Winning duels/90 |
---|---|
McGinn | 5.75 |
Arch | 5.70 |
Tielemans | 5.27 |
Nice chemistry
McGinn has created 10 big chances this season, and six of those have created opportunities for leading scorer Ollie Watkins.
From wide areas, the Scotsman is adept at turning crosses towards the forward, while in the center he always tries to slide him in with clever balls.
Arsenal should approach the former Hibernian man as his one-touch passes beyond the latter have been outstanding in 2023/24.
Those sharp left-footed crosses (see below) from McGinn to Watkins, against Man City and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively, were both excellent.
![McWat1](https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2024/04/11/7950ea87-0593-4e11-b19c-cbcabaf91800/McWat1.jpg?width=1400&height=800)
![McWat1](https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2024/04/11/7950ea87-0593-4e11-b19c-cbcabaf91800/McWat1.jpg?width=1400&height=800)
![McWat2](https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2024/04/11/9f7e3198-f160-4bcc-9b89-677d67882a00/McWat2.jpg?width=1400&height=800)
![McWat2](https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2024/04/11/9f7e3198-f160-4bcc-9b89-677d67882a00/McWat2.jpg?width=1400&height=800)
Keeping clean sheets in six of their last eight Premier League games, Arsenal are a tough nut to crack, but the McGuin-Watkins link-up is something Mikel Arteta will be wary of on Sunday.
An underrated creator
Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby are the only Villa stars to have created more chances from open play at a faster pace than McGinn, who is always looking to beat open opposition defences.
This shot assist map for 2023/24 below shows how the popular midfielder can hurt opposing teams from different areas.
He has made a combined 14 tackles, and several of the chances he creates also come from wide areas.
![John McGinn](https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2024/04/11/6bcebe9f-07df-4f6d-978f-5f1220529a70/player_-half-pitch-visualisation-16x9.png?width=1400&height=800)
![John McGinn](https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2024/04/11/6bcebe9f-07df-4f6d-978f-5f1220529a70/player_-half-pitch-visualisation-16x9.png?width=1400&height=800)
Big responsibility
As mentioned, McGinn has a hugely important role to play in Emery’s return to north London.
Compensating for the absence of Douglas Luiz, he will need to press hard, protect Villa’s back four, play in phase and threaten for goals and assists in the final third.
He has always been a valuable player but this weekend Villa will really need him to be at his best.