Aston Villa faced a disappointing 4-1 loss to Manchester City recently, potentially halting the momentum they had after the international break. Although they were trailing 2-1 at halftime, Phil Foden’s two additional goals in the second half sealed Villa’s eighth league defeat this season. With seven games remaining, they currently hold a slim two-point lead over Tottenham Hotspur in fourth place, although Spurs have a game in hand.
Looking ahead, Aston Villa is set to face Brentford today, and manager Unai Emery may make changes to the starting lineup, likely dropping a midfielder who underperformed in the City match.
Statistical Analysis of Tim Iroegbunam’s Performance Against Manchester City
Tim Iroegbunam received his inaugural Premier League start of the season against the reigning champions but struggled to demonstrate his abilities effectively throughout the game.
Positioned alongside Douglas Luiz in midfield, the youngster managed to complete only 12 passes and made just 28 touches during his time on the field, indicating a lack of involvement.
In addition, Iroegbunam won four out of ten ground duels, lost possession six times, and successfully completed only one out of three dribble attempts. He was also dribbled past by opponents on two occasions.
Statistics for Tim Iroegbunam vs City:
Accurate passes: 12 out of 14
Touches: 28
Ground duels won: 4 out of 10
Tackles made: 3
Possession lost: 6
(Source: Sofascore)
The midfielder was called upon because John McGinn was serving the final match of his three-game suspension. However, now that the suspension is over, McGinn is likely to regain his spot in the starting lineup.
Iroegbunam will gain valuable experience from this opportunity, but considering the significance of the upcoming matches, it would be most sensible for Emery to reintroduce McGinn against Brentford.
Statistical overview of John McGinn’s performance this season
McGinn received a red card a few weeks ago for a challenge on Destiny Udogie, leading to a three-match suspension.
Before this incident, McGinn had participated in every league game, contributing six goals and three assists, establishing himself as one of Emery’s top performers. Additionally, he ranks fifth in the team for creating significant scoring opportunities (9) and is third for key passes per game (1.4), successful dribbles per game (1.6), and tackles per game (1.7), demonstrating his effectiveness across various metrics.
During his debut season at Villa Park, journalist Mat Kendrick described him as a “persistent force,” a label he has continued to live up to.
McGinn’s return for the Brentford match is a significant boost for Emery, as Villa seeks crucial points. McGinn’s track record, both for the club and the national team, illustrates his ability to influence important matches. With McGinn back in the lineup alongside Luiz, Emery has his preferred midfield duo ready to face the Bees today.