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Aston Villa asserted their claim as serious contenders for the Premier League title through a commanding first-half display against Arsenal on Saturday, December 9th.
Unai Emery’s team led 1-0 at Villa Park at halftime, courtesy of an early goal from John McGinn, facilitated by a moment of brilliance from Leon Bailey. However, the outcome could have differed had Bukayo Saka converted an early chance, which could have given Arsenal an early advantage. Saka’s maneuver against Lucas Digne prompted criticism from Jamie Carragher, who labeled the Frenchman a “lucky boy” for momentarily losing focus.
Carragher stressed the necessity for constant vigilance on the field, acknowledging the high-quality talent present and highlighting the repercussions of momentary lapses in concentration.
During the first half, Digne encountered a tough challenge from Saka, winning only 50% of the duels he engaged in and notably refraining from attempting a single tackle, as per Fotmob. This performance echoes a larger pattern for Digne this season, where he ranks in the lowest 11% for tackles won per 90 minutes among Premier League fullbacks, according to Fbref.
While Digne often emerges successfully from duels, his infrequent attempts (1.84 times per match) to challenge dribblers fall significantly below the league average, hindering Arsenal’s defensive efforts against Saka’s wide advances.
Notably, Digne struggles with intercepting passes, ranking in the 38th percentile for passes blocked per match among players in his position. Additionally, 95% of fullbacks block more shots than the 30-year-old, emphasizing a deficiency in this facet of his defensive game.
Despite his underwhelming defensive contributions, Digne conceded a mistimed challenge that resulted in a foul. In terms of possession, Digne had minimal impact, registering only 14 touches and unsuccessful crossing attempts. With Arsenal dominating possession, he attempted just six passes, completing 71% of them while relinquishing possession three times.
Digne even attempted a free-kick at David Raya’s goal, but his effort into the wall lacked effectiveness, indicating a potential necessity for more dynamic offensive input.
Considering these defensive shortcomings and his limited influence in possession, there is a suggestion that Emery might contemplate substituting Digne with Alex Moreno in the second half to bolster the left-back position and stifle further opportunities for Saka. This tactical adjustment could enhance Aston Villa’s defensive resilience and maintain their lead in the pursuit of Premier League success.
