Evann Guessand holds Aston Villa key vs Maccabi Tel Aviv as Europa League stat emerges
Evann Guessand has been a polarising figure for the Aston Villa supporters this season.
Guessand has been underwhelming for Villa in certain matches, with his performances coming under scrutiny since signing from OGC Nice.
However, his importance to the team can be vital, and Guessand’s defensive contributions have been overlooked, with the summer signing impressing off the ball.
A new stat has been revealed ahead of Aston Villa’s match against Maccabi Tel Aviv on 6 November, which has the Ivorian forward rubbing shoulders with the best players in the Europa League.
Evann Guessand second-best in Europa League for promising stat
Guessand may not be easy on the eye, yet certain stats have outlined his importance in the team.
Only Celtic’s Sebastian Tounekti (21) has had more touches in the opposition box in the UEFA Europa League this season than Aston Villa’s 24-year-old winger (19).
Guessand also scored his first Villa goal in the 2-1 defeat to Go Ahead Eagles.
| Appearances | 3 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Shots | 5 |
| Touches in opposition box | 19 |
| Aerial duels won | 42.9% |
Guessand’s £30million move from Nice, via BBC Sport, has obviously not lived up to expectations just yet; however, his ability to get into the box is incredibly promising for his future in B6.
Of course, he needs to translate this skill to the Premier League, yet he is currently offering a lot more to the side than some think.
In the Premier League, only Matty Cash has made more tackles than his total of 15.
With there being no away fans at Villa Park for the Maccabi Tel Aviv clash, Unai Emery’s side will be looking to boost their chances of finishing in the top eight with a straightforward win.
Aston Villa should have far too much quality for Maccabi Tel Aviv
Wins over Bologna and Feyenoord in the opening two weeks have put Villa in a brilliant position, and their remaining fixtures are favourable.
Villa are the favourites to win the whole competition, and they take on a Tel Aviv side that has one point from their first three games.
Emery is a serial winner in this competition, and the home crowd will be louder than ever to spur the team on to record yet another win in Europe.
Victory against Tel Aviv is definitely expected, and Guessand could not play a huge role in the match, with a first goal at Villa Park certainly on his agenda.
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