Ian Maatsen may have forced Unai Emery’s hand vs Arsenal after what happened in Brighton win
Ian Maatsen has done all he can to prove that he is capable of starting Aston Villa’s clash against Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday.
Villa signed Maatsen from Chelsea in 2024 for £37.5million, but the left-back has struggled to make his mark in B6 under Unai Emery.
After not featuring in Villa’s 1-0 win over Wolves on Sunday, he was given a start in the dramatic 4-3 victory against Brighton on Wednesday.
With Lucas Digne ahead of him in the pecking order, the 23-year-old will be expecting to be named on the bench when Mikel Arteta’s side travel to Villa Park.
However, after helping Aston Villa to a sixth consecutive win in all competitions, Maatsen became the first man to achieve a staggering feat that only Boubacar Kamara has replicated.
Ian Maatsen wins 10+ duels in win vs Brighton
Maatsen isn’t expected to start against Arsenal, although that’s mainly due to Emery’s reliance on Digne.
Against Brighton, the Netherlands international was excellent at both ends of the pitch and provided a real threat for Villa’s attacking play down the left-hand side.
According to FotMob, Maatsen won 50 per cent of his ground duels and 100 per cent of his aerial duels.
| Stat | Maatsen |
| Minutes played | 70 |
| Ground duels won | 50% (9/18) |
| Aerial duels won | 100% (1/1) |
| Successful dribbles | 83% (5/6) |
| Pass accuracy | 84% (21/25) |
Maatsen also became the second Villa player to win 10+ duels in a match after Boubacar Kamara.
The Dutch defender is obviously in esteemed company, as Kamara has been outstanding for the Villans throughout the campaign.
His assured performance helped Villa move up to third in the Premier League table, and a win over Arsenal could catapult Emery’s side into a title race.
Maatsen has pleaded his case to Emery about starting on Saturday, and there is now an element of doubt over who will play.
Maatsen is tipped to replace Digne in the long-term future, although he may have to wait for a while before he becomes a regular starter.
How long will it take before Ian Maatsen overtakes Lucas Digne?
Digne has often been Aston Villa’s unsung hero, with his impact in both boxes proving to be something very few players in his position can match.
The 32-year-old is maintaining his fitness levels well and is expected to start for France at the 2026 World Cup.
As the season progresses, Maatsen may be afforded more opportunities, and his performances in Europe could bear weight over his minutes in the Premier League.
With Villa playing a game every three days at the moment, having two top-quality left-backs is perfect, and the depth in the squad is becoming clear as Villa strive to hit new levels under Emery.
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