Roy Keane blown away by ‘quality’ Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz after what he did v Everton, he should join Manchester City or Arsenal
Douglas Luiz continued his stunning Aston Villa form this season with a delightful display in the 0-0 draw against Everton on Sunday (14 January).
Aston Villa missed the chance to move level on points with Premier League pace-setters Liverpool as they were forced to settle for a draw in a scrappy encounter at Goodison Park.
The Villans failed to produce the decisive moment to enable them to overhaul Manchester City and move into second place in the table in what was Unai Emery’s first 0-0 draw in his 97th English top-flight game.
It was a very tepid encounter at Goodison Park as both teams cancelled each other out but Emery may feel the unconvincing display from his team was down to his key players underperforming.
That wasn’t the case for the incredibly consistent Douglas Luiz who completely wowed Sky Sports pundit and Manchester United icon Roy Keane live on air – a particularly mean feat for any footballer given Keane’s reputation as a tough pundit to impress.
The Brazilian has been linked with a move to Arsenal throughout 2023 [The Mirror] and again showed why many are tipping him for further stardom within Europe’s elite and it’s no wonder why the Villans have placed a £100m price tag on his head.
Speaking on Sky Sports Premier League’s live coverage at Goodison Park (14 January, 1:45 pm) Keane even tipped Luiz for a return to Manchester City – the club where he wasn’t handed the opportunity to make the grade.
“He turns up every week this player,” said Keane. “Never seems to be injured. Quality player. I like him.
“I think he was linked with Arsenal last year. There are no surprises there, with some of the Villa players, you think they can certainly go on to play for a Man United, Arsenal or even Man City, you look at Watkins.
“But I like Luiz. He is consistent. Turns up week in and week out. You know what you are going to get from him. I like a lot about him. Probably lacks that real pace maybe.
“In terms of his decision-making and looking after the ball. Very, very good.”
Indeed, Luiz has been quality this season.
When compared to his positional peers in the Premier League, he sits in the 93rd percentile for goals scored per 90 minutes, averaging one every three games [Fbref].
While most critics will point to the number of penalties the Aston Villa midfielder has taken this season, he has proven to be a creative force for his teammates as well, producing more shot-creating actions per match than 85 per cent of Premier League midfielders.
In his 20 Premier League appearances this season, Luiz has scored six goals and registered three assists. That means the Brazilian midfielder has played a part in 20.9 per cent of all Aston Villa’s league goals this season, a remarkable figure for a holding midfielder.
Against Everton on Sunday, the Brazilian may not have contributed to a goal or an assist in what was a below-par game but he certainly held his own once again in what was an intimidating atmosphere, one where he certainly made a few enemies in Andre Onana and James Tarkowski.
As per SofaScore, Luiz completed 100 per cent of his dribbles, successfully completed 90 per cent of his passes, registered two key passes, won four ground duels, and registered two clearances in yet another complete display.
Aston Villa certainly have a masterful performer on their hands and with each genius showing every week in the Premier League, it makes it incredibly difficult for Emery and the club to fend off wandering eyes on his performances.
Luiz is certainly good enough to play for Pep Guardiola or Mikel Arteta but right now, he is looking to create history at Villa Park and that’s where he belongs. He’s said it himself (Sky Sports, 6 December).
In other Aston Villa news, a Sky Sports pundit has savaged a first-team player and called him “Foolish” after what he did recently.