Unai Emery could unleash forward-thinking Alex Moreno in midfield role for Aston Villa
Since moving to Aston Villa in the January transfer window, Alex Moreno has looked like a brilliant attacking outlet down the left flank, but a change in positions could increase this threat for Unai Emery’s team.
The Spaniard picked up his second assist from his last three starts against West Ham on Sunday (12 March) with a perfectly placed cross from the left wing, which Ollie Watkins duly nodded home beyond Alphonse Areola.
Moreno’s 64-minute outing against the Hammers was a great example of the attacking ability he possesses but simultaneously the defensive naivety he can show at times – suggesting a shift in positioning could be the best option for the January recruit.
In a back-four, bombing forward as the 29-year-old did can be a little reckless, and time after time, Villa were caught out by Jarrod Bowen attacking this vacant space that Moreno had left vacant.
The Hammers attacker managed to complete seven dribbles down his right wing, force two key passes and was fouled on three occasions by Moreno as the Villa man struggled to deal with the pace and power of the England international.
There is no doubting Moreno’s work in the final third, though. In just over an hour of action, he completed four dribbles – a team high – as well as producing three key passes. [WhoScored]
The question then is how Emery can unleash the attacking potential of Moreno without leaving his team vulnerable in defence.
He could be tempted to play the more defensively-minded Lucas Digne at left-back, with Moreno just in front of him on the left side of midfield against Bournemouth on Saturday (18 March).
That would mean Jacob Ramsey would need to be sacrificed, but right now, Moreno is offering more attacking output than the Englishman.
With his Aston Villa team firmly planted in the Premier League mid-table and with a European push a distant thought, now is the time for Emery to tinker with his side and try out a new combination.
In other Aston Villa news, Danny Mills was completely wrong about a ‘terrible’ Villa player after his recent transformation under Unai Emery.