Aston Villa: Emi Buendia needs to do more as stats emerge in Premier League
Emi Bunedia appeared for Aston Villa in all 38 matches during the latest Premier League campaign as the club qualified for Europe.
The Argentinian scored five league goals and provided two assists as he featured in various positions across Villa’s midfield and forward line.
Buendia mostly played his football in the central attacking midfield position and on the left wing but also featured as a centre-forward and on the right.
Despite his seven-goal involvements in the Premier League, a deeper dive into the stats reveals that the Villa number ten could be doing more.
As per stats provided by FBREF, Buendia only completed 1.01 take-ons per 90 during the Premier League which puts him in just the 23rd percentile of midfielders in the league.
As well as this, he made just 2.24 progressive carries per 90 in the league, putting him in the 28th percentile for midfielders.
For a player who played most of his football in advanced positions, fans will expect these numbers to be higher. The same fans will also be expecting the 26-year-old to provide more assists.
Just two assists are not enough for a creative forward player who plays the majority of his football at attacking midfield.
He averages just 0.07 assists per 90 which puts him in the 32nd percentile for Premier League midfielders.
For a player who cost Aston Villa £33million, fans will be expecting a higher level of output from the former Norwich man.
His involvement in and around the box and end product will need to improve, especially with the club competing in Europe next season which will lead to a more demanding fixture schedule.
In other Aston Villa news, the stats have revealed a player whose time might be done at Villa.