Tyrone Mings faces uncertain Aston Villa future after Diego Carlos masterclass v Arsenal, Alan Shearer was blown away
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has continued his stunning spell at the Midlands club by defeating his former side Arsenal.
Midfield ace John McGinn scored the only goal as Villa defeated the Gunners 1-0 at Villa Park on Saturday (9 December).
The fantastic victory means Emery’s men currently sit third in the Premier League table on 35 points, just one point behind Arsenal in second and two behind league leaders Liverpool.
Crucial to the latest three points was defender Diego Carlos, with the centre-back continuing his superb recovery from a lengthy injury with another top display.
Having had his time at the club massively disrupted through an achilles injury, Carlos has been a regular lately, with the defender having now played 90 minutes in the club’s last four league matches.
Despite the firepower Mikel Arteta had available at Villa Park, Emery’s men were more than up for the challenge, led by a masterclass from Carlos on his 16th appearance of the season.
As per Sofascore, the central defender completed 76% of his passes, won five of his seven ground duels, and won his only aerial duel.
Moreover, the Aston Villa ace made a match-high six clearances and a huge five tackles, as well as making one clearance off the line.
The performance caught the eye of pundit Alan Shearer, who when naming the defender in his official Premier League Team of the Week (11 December) said: “Hardly put a foot wrong. His positioning allowed him to make crucial clearances to prevent Arsenal from scoring.”
But his displays may not be welcomed so warmly by fellow defender Tyrone Mings, who is currently out with a cruciate ligament injury.
The centre-back had been shining under Emery last season alongside Ezri Konsa, but his injury, Carlos’s form, and the arrival of the impressive Pau Torres, could push Mings right down the pecking order.
In his 31 minutes on the pitch against Newcastle United in August before suffering the injury, Mings registered a 100% pass success rate, won his only duel, and made one interception and one clearance [Sofascore].
The Englishman will hardly want to be in that position upon his return, even though chances would come in other competitions given Villa’s likely appearance in Europe next season.
Strength in depth will be key to successfully compete in all competitions, but it remains to be seen where Mings’s future lies given the current defensive situation at Villa Park.
In other Aston Villa news, one 17 G/A Villa star has been “unleashed” under Emery, he must be kept at Villa Park at all costs amid Premier League interest.