Emery buzzing as disastrous Man City update emerges ahead of Aston Villa clash
Unai Emery will be hoping to take advantage of Manchester City's poor form when Aston Villa face Pep Guardiola's side on Saturday.
The Villans are in fine form despite a recent 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest, next welcoming the current Premier League champions to Villa Park on 21 December.
Emery was without winger Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey for the trip to The City Ground last time out but it looks to be a different Spaniard who is suffering from an injury crisis ahead of the Man City clash.
Guardiola confirmed [20 December] that City will be without star defender Ruben Dias, who has suffered a new injury and will be sidelined for "three or four weeks" after playing in the Manchester derby.
The 27-year-old is a huge miss, with Stefan Borson making a pun in a recent X post [20 December]: "Genuinely Diastrous news. What would Thomas Frank do?"
Unai Emery handed extra boost ahead of Aston Villa v Manchester City
While Man City have endured a difficult campaign so far, Dias is still one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, boasting top 99 and 91 percentile rankings in pass completion and progressive passes [FBref].
Given Guardiola's playing style, he is vital to the way City build their attacks as well as protect Ederson's goal, though he is also a doubt for the clash at Villa Park [Simon Bajkowski].
In Man City's last victory - a 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest - he was crucial. Dias completed 94 per cent of his passes, won 100 per cent of his tackles, and won 100 per cent of his ground and aerial duels. [FotMob].
Without their star centre-back, and Ollie Watkins possibly making a return to the starting XI, Villa could run riot and move above their opponents in the Premier League table.
Although Watkins has not been at his absolute best this season, he still ranks in the top 75 percentile ranking for non-penalty goals and the top 96 percentile for assists [FBref].
With a top 87 percentile ranking for touches inside the opponent's penalty area, the 28-year-old could be given a lot of time and space to fire at goal without Dias there to stand in his way.
In other Aston Villa news, Chelsea tipped to sign one star after a contract development emerged from Villa Park.