Why Lamare Bogarde deserved more Unai Emery faith as Aston Villa XI vs Tottenham drops

Unai Emery has named his Aston Villa lineup for the trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

Saturday lunchtime sees the Villans go in search of their first Premier League win of the season.

Likewise, this is also what Tottenham will be looking to accomplish too, as Roberto De Zerbi's side remain winless after four games.

Villa's confidence levels will've been boosted with a good 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Coventry City in midweek though.

Lamare Bogarde started and played the full 90 minutes in the heart of Emery's midfield at the CBS Arena.

And his performance in this Midlands derby win deserved to see him retain his starting spot for the trip to N17 this afternoon.

What is the Aston Villa team Unai Emery has picked vs Tottenham?

Despite being a derby game, Coventry still offered Emery the chance to rest and rotate some his key players.

As a result, Boubacar Kamara was benched, enabling Bogarde to step into midfield.

Emery has restored his side to a more full strength on on Saturday, however.

Zion Suzuki replaces Marco Bizot in goal, with a back four of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Tyrone Mings and Matteo Ruggeri.

In midfield, Kamara, Johan Manzambi and Joao Gomes start in the middle, with Emi Buendia and John McGinn down the flanks.

Leading the line is Nicolas Jackson, who comes back into the side ahead of Tammy Abraham despite bagging a brace against the Sky Blues.

But focusing in on Bogarde's exclusion, why did his performance against Coventry deserve not to go under the radar?

Where Bogarde led all players in Coventry vs Aston Villa

Some may look at the fact that Aston Villa were playing Coventry and thus take performances with a relative pinch of salt.

That would be unfair, as it's only currently thanks to Villa's draw with Hull City that Emery's side don't sit level with City on zero points at the foot of the table.

As such, Bogarde's display deserved to see him get his flowers, even though that didn't really seem to happen for the 22-year-old.

Per FotMob, no player on the pitch at the CBS Arena that night made more defensive contributions than Bogarde's 11.

Meanwhile, he completed 92 per cent of his passes accurately, took 71 touches and was accurate with his lone long ball attempt.

Bogarde also led all players in that game for his seven clearances and his five aerial duels won, whilst also winning six of his 10 ground duels.

He would also contribute five recoveries, three tackles, one interception and won three fouls.

Make no mistake, Bogarde's Coventry display demanded Emery keep him in his starting XI for Tottenham, so his benching is harsh.