Aston Villa: Tim Iroegbunam must mature quickly amid Douglas Luiz ‘huge blow’ v Arsenal
Unai Emery will need to turn to 20-year-old Tim Iroegbunam once again as Douglas Luiz is set to miss the Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Arsenal on Sunday (14 April).
The young midfielder has experienced his first taste of senior football at Villa Park this season, having only made five appearances before being loaned out to QPR for the 2022/23 campaign.
After playing 32 matches in the Championship in the last campaign, Emery has clearly found a new sense of trust in Iroegbunam and must keep that faith as Villa face the Gunners on Sunday.
The Villans’ match against Arsenal could be a defining moment in their season as Emery looks to claim Champions League qualification through a top-four Premier League finish.
Having been hoisted out of fourth place by Tottenham Hotspur, though, Douglas Luiz’s suspension will only add more worry and fear for the fans at Villa Park, having picked up his 10th yellow card of the season.
Alan Hutton described the Brazilian’s absence as a “huge blow”, stating that he has been one of the club’s most “outstanding” players this season, with 10 goals and 10 assists in all competitions.
Luiz will not be easily replaceable. Among midfielders in the top five European leagues, he ranks in the top 93 percentile for non-penalty goals, the top 79 percentile for assists, and the top 86 percentile for shot-creating actions. [FBref]
His defensive actions are just as impressive, making 1.2 successful tackles per 90 minutes, only second at Villa Park to Boubacar Kamara, while also being the fourth-best player at winning possession back in the final third. [FotMob]
Could Tim Iroegbunam feature in Aston Villa v Arsenal?
Iroegbunam should already be at the forefront of Emery’s mind as a potential replacement for his midfield maestro, having impressed against Manchester City.
The 20-year-old was handed a start against the current Premier League champions, maintaining an 86 per cent pass completion, as per FotMob, against some of the best midfielders in the league.
He also made one interception, and four recoveries, and was involved in 10 ground duels, though he was only successful in 40 per cent of them.
Emery has few choices against the Gunners, though it could be the difference between Champions League and Europa League football next season.
Iroegbunam has a lot of growing up to do in such a small space of time.
In other Aston Villa news, Goodman has had his say on the speculation linking the Villans with one of their former players.
For more Aston Villa news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.