Aston Villa confirmed XI v Fulham: Unai Emery makes Moussa Diaby call
Unai Emery has named his Aston Villa XI to take on Fulham in the Premier League at Craven Cootage on Saturday, 17 February.
Boubacar Kamara is obviously ruled out with his fresh injury and he’s now set to be a long-term absentee for the Villans.
Moussa Diaby has been named on the bench and this could be a decision that Emery regrets come the full-time whistle.
Diaby could have been the difference maker for Villa
Despite being an attacking midfielder, Diaby averages nearly three shots on goal every 90 minutes, making better than 85 per cent of other players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues, per Fbref.
His average of 0.33 assists per 90 minutes also makes him better than 86 per cent of other attacking midfielders so he’s clearly offering something unique in the final third.
Every game, he averages over five touches in the opposing penalty area and that could be a good thing as Ollie Watkins will have someone to shoulder the attacking responsibilities.
His non-penalty xG per 90 is also 0.33 which is a pretty decent number for an attacking midfielder or winger.
Aston Villa go in as favourites
For Villa, winning against Fulham holds significant importance due to their recent dip in form and their aspirations for European qualification.
With just two wins in their last six league matches and several key players sidelined due to injuries, securing a victory would not only boost their morale but also help them regain momentum in their quest for European football.
Additionally, given their recent dominance over Fulham, winning this match would not only contribute to their points tally but also extend their psychological advantage over their opponents.
Furthermore, with Fulham also struggling to find consistency in their performances, Villa are considered favourites to win, especially considering their strong attacking options led by Ollie Watkins.
In other Aston Villa news, the club may have suffered yet another injury blow as a first-team player could now be out longer than first feared.
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