For the second season running, the Villans have delivered a seismic blow to Arsenal’s domestic ambitions and once again, Emery’s tactical acumen was pivotal to their success.
‘He was fantastic’: The Aston Villa star who silenced his critics in new role
Read MoreThe Belgian instigated the fightback with a brilliant – and brave – diving header from a pinpoint Lucas Digne delivery after making a determined, driving run into the box.
Tielemans kept popping up in dangerous areas not only as he was the nearest Villa player to Ollie Watkins, deployed as a No 10 of sorts, but because he is smart and has an acute awareness of where the space is.
Throughout his time in England, first with Leicester and now at Villa, Tielemans has predominantly played as a deep-lying playmaker. His stats at the Emirates underlined his new role: he had three of Villa’s eight shots and completed just 60 per cent of his passes.
This is a relatively new ploy from Emery and evidently one that is working. He has picked Tielemans further forward in five of Villa’s last six Premier League games having previously utilised him further back. Villa have earned 10 out of a possible 15 points in that period.
Emery even opted to keep Tielemans high up the pitch when Amadou Onana had to go off injured at the end of the first-half, using Melayro Bogarde – a natural defender – as one of the two defensive midfielders instead, alongside Boubacar Kamara.
Youri Tielemans heads home from Lucas Digne's cross to pull one back for Villa! pic.twitter.com/OliwVuSSdZ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 18, 2025
Tielemans is far from the most high-profile player in Villa’s squad. Much more is said and written about Watkins and his goals, Morgan Rogers’ exciting potential, Emi Martinez’s wonder-saves and Jhon Duran’s super-sub heroics.
Rogers has been brilliant as a ball-carrying second striker and was far less effective out wide on Saturday. Tielemans provides a completely different option in that position, offering more poise than power. He’s a silky-smooth operator who makes difficult tasks appear easy.
Either way, it gives Emery more flexibility in the final third, making Villa more unpredictable as a result.
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