Jonty Banks

Sat 14 January 2023 16:30, UK

Unai Emery’s midfield has been quite spectacular since he arrived as Aston Villa manager in December, helping him pick up 13 points from his opening six matches.

Setting his team up in a 4-4-2, the Spaniard has relied on a midfield four of Douglas Luiz, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey – barring injuries – to dictate games and help propel Villa back onto the cusp of the top half of the Premier League table.

During the 2-1 win over Leeds on Friday night (13 January) and the 2-0 win against Spurs, three of Villa’s four goals came from midfielders, a trend that has started to rise quite dramatically since the sacking of Steven Gerrard.

However, how do they fare against possibly the greatest Aston Villa midfield of the Premier League era, manufactured by Martin O’Neill in the season of 2008/09?

Gareth Barry v Douglas Luiz

Both Gareth Barry and Luiz play in very similar ways. Sitting at the base of the midfield, both have relied on their reading of the game to nick in and poach possession for their respective sides during their careers.

Luiz may potentially be able to offer a little more in possession of the football than Barry – a Brazilian flair, you could say – but his lack of big-game experience holds him back when the heat is on.

Barry was a strong, workmanlike and totally committed to the cause footballer who will go down as one of the Villa Park greats. Taking to the field 365 times in claret and blue, his achievements for the club cannot go unnoticed.

A lynchpin and captain of one of the most successful Villa sides in recent history, Barry has to nick this duel thanks to his experience and the leadership qualities he brought to Aston Villa over his 12-year stay.

Stiliyan Petrov v Boubacar Kamara

Stiliiyan Petrov enjoyed seven fruitful years at Villa Park after signing for the club as an attacking midfielder from Celtic in 2006, but his transformation into a defensive-minded terrier of a midfielder was one of O’Neill’s many strokes of genius at Villa Park.

In his prime, Petrov was a dogged midfielder who also had an eye for goal. He led by example with his performances on the pitch rather than his rousing speeches off it.

The Bulgarian, however, lacks the ridiculously high ceiling that Kamara clearly possesses. After just half a season in claret and blue, the Frenchman has adapted to Premier League life like a duck to water and looks to have the potential to play Champions League football it the future.

It is the combination of Kamara’s defensive attributes, alongside his use of possession, that gets him a spot alongside Barry in the heart of this combined midfield.

Ashley Young v John McGinn

The two current teammates go head-to-head for a spot on the left side of the midfield after McGinn’s shift from the middle of the park under Gerrard.

Sixteen years after his debut, Young is still going as strong as ever, but rewinding back to his days under O’Neill and the Englishman was a real handful of a winger. He was a skilful, fleet-footed, and pacey winger in his prime and undoubtedly contributed to some of Villa’s brightest days in the Premier League.

His link-up play with partner in crime Gabriel Agbonlahor was quite something to watch, and in the 2007/08 season, he contributed eight goals and 16 assists from 37 league appearances.

Young is a shoo-in for a spot in this midfield, and McGinn, unfortunately, doesn’t really stand a chance in this head-to-head.

James Milner v Jacob Ramsey

Ramsey is possibly the brightest prospect to emerge from the Aston Villa academy in the last decade and looks like a real talent for Emery to nurture.

The 21-year-old has already accumulated 73 caps to his name and looks like he will be a key cog in Villa’s midfield for years to come.

James Milner was only at Villa Park for four seasons, but he quickly made his mark on proceedings. His time on the right side of O’Neill’s midfield earnt him a call-up to Fabio Capello’s England squad, and he was a mainstay in the Three Lions’ side during the 2010 World Cup.

Despite Milner’s brilliance in the West Midlands, Ramsey takes the final spot in the midfield. His ability to pop up with match-winning moments on a regular basis is a brilliant trait to possess, and he is only going to move from strength to strength in the coming seasons.

Ultimate midfield: Gareth Barry, Boubacar Kamara, Ashley Young, Jacob Ramsey

In other Aston Villa news, Dan Bardell believes Unai Emery must make the most out of a favourable run of fixtures if he hopes to climb up the Premier League table.