Aston Villa: Alan Shearer blown away by what ‘fantastic’ Moussa Diaby did v Luton Town
Aston Villa seem to keep improving under Unai Emery and while they wobbled in their win over Luton Town, they still managed to pick up a vital three points.
Ollie Watkins was once again the hero at Kenilworth Road on Saturday (2 March) as his wonderful first-half brace partnered with Lucas Digne’s last-minute header ensured Emery’s side ran out 3-2 winners over the Hatters.
While the goalscorers earned a majority of the plaudits for their exploits, Alan Shearer was equally keen to praise Moussa Diaby for his “fantastic” ball into the penalty area that allowed Digne to head home at the far post.
Speaking on Match of the Day on Saturday (2 March, 38:25) he said: “He plays his part in the winning goal in the last minute. That is a fantastic ball and a really good header from Lucas Digne.”
Diaby has been in and out of Villa’s starting XI so far this season and while he once again had to make do from the bench, the Frenchman demonstrated his magnificent quality on the ball in his 11-minute cameo at Kenilworth Road.
The 24-year-old only had seven touches in the match, only one of which saw him get on the ball in the Luton penalty area, but he completed 80 per cent of his five attempted passes in the contest as he maintained possession well, according to Fotmob.
However, Diaby showed why Emery can rely on him week in and week out as he completed his only attempted cross in the match, his excellent effort to pick out Digne which carried an expected assist rate of 0.24, higher than any other Villa substitute.
While it has been a slightly disappointing season for the Frenchman since he arrived at Villa Park, he has proven to be one of the most creative forwards in the Premier League when it comes to laying on chances for his teammates.
Diaby places in the 95th percentile of his positional peers in England for key passes made per 90 minutes, averaging 1.99 a match and he also has one of the highest expected assist rates per game, averaging 0.2 a match, according to Fbref.
Only three per cent of Premier League forwards manage more than Diaby’s 0.54 crosses into the penalty area every 90 minutes as he repeatedly looks to find Watkins and Villa’s other striking options in the penalty area.
Villa’s French winger also happens to be one of the division’s best ball carriers as well, making more progressive carries a game and completing more dribbles into the opposition penalty area than 94 per cent of forwards.
Will Unai Emery start Moussa Diaby for Aston Villa at Villa Park?
Emery is currently spoiled with forward options at Villa Par with the likes of Leon Bailey, Jacob Ramsey, Leon Bailey and Morgan Rogers all impressing out wide and that has made it hard for Diaby to hold down a consistent place in Villa’s starting XI.
But the Frenchman showed with his “fantastic” cross into the penalty area that he is as deserving of a starting role as any other winger in Emery’s squad. Maybe that all-important assist will be enough to force him into the starting XI against Ajax.
In other Aston Villa news, Emery has already made a decision over Nicolo Zaniolo’s long-term future at Villa Park beyond the end of the season
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