Callum O'Connell

Sun 3 December 2023 14:51, UK

It has been yet another embarrassing performance from Nicolo Zaniolo in Aston Villa colours, and Unai Emery needs to drag him off at half-time to put this game beyond all doubt.

The Italian who arrived on loan from Galatasaray in the summer transfer window had failed to make an impact in the Midlands and has looked shocking yet again on the South Coast.

Villa went 1-0 down early on after a mistake from Diego Carlos before Leon Bailey pulled one back to send his side level going into halftime, with Zaniolo doing little to help that.

It has been a huge disappointment to Villa fans seeing Zaniolo start so many games despite consistently underwhelming performances, as he offers very little going forward and even less to cover defensively with his one tackle the only defensive contribution of the game.

The Italian missed a good chance early in the game as he lashed his strike over the bar before Villa fell a goal behind, and failed to threaten in the rest of the game with that his only effort of the first half despite his presence alongside Ollie Watkins in the lineup.

With a 0% dribble completion rate, and having won just two of his eight attempted ground duels and none of his aerial duels, he has struggled to make an impact on the side going forward.

With just three completed passes compared to the ten times he gave the ball away, Villa may as well be playing with ten men, and having been booked for a poor foul, they are at risk of doing so if he commits another one. [Sofascore]

With both Jhon Duran and Moussa Diaby waiting in the wings, Emery has plenty of options if he does decide to change things, with patience beginning to wear thin as far as Zaniolo is concerned.

If Emery wants to see his side complete a comeback victory, he will need to consider getting Zaniolo off in favour of one of his more in-form and effective teammates awaiting a call from the bench.

In other Aston Villa news, Alan Hutton has made an uncomfortable admission about Ezri Konsa.