The stats that show how crucial £75k-a-week ace is to Aston Villa

One of the many Aston Villa players having a fantastic season in claret and blue is Douglas Luiz.

Due to suspension, Douglas Luiz and left-back Lucas Digne were both much missed in midfield during Villa’s 2-1 triumph over a 10-man Brentford on Sunday.Just before halftime, Keane Lewis-Potter of Brentford gave Villa, who were traveling, a typically bad start.

Ben Mee’s dismissal and a few brilliant changes from Unai Emery were required to completely change the course of the match in the second half.

Alex Moreno levelled the scores on his return to the side before Ollie Watkins stepped up against his former club to clinch the

winning goal.Although the victory sent Villa one point behind leaders Arsenal at the top, their struggles in London were

accentuated by the absence of Luiz, who had been the creative force behind their midfield all season long.

Douglas Luiz’s statistics this season

Since the arrival of Emery, Luiz has enjoyed his transformation into an all-encompassing central midfielder.

The Brazilian was previously recognised for his ability as a tackling machine while sweeping possession in front of Villa’s back line.

Now he’s being utilised as the complete midfielder, who is outrageously comfortable on the ball and has an exceptional passing range, perfectly complementing the high-octane style of Boubacar Kamara.

He takes ownership of the ball after receiving it from his teammates and acts as the park’s conductor.

This is demonstrated by his position in the Villa lineup for a variety of passing metrics. According to Sofascore, he ranks second for accurate passes made per game (52.8), sixth for major chances created (4), and first for accurate long balls made per game (3.8).

These numbers alone make it clear why Emery’s team found it difficult to defeat Brentford, but his influence at the top of the pitch only serves to reinforce his philosophy.

His seven straight home games between April and November saw him score a goal or provide an assist, earning him the praise of journalist John Townley as a “special talent.”

It makes sense that Arsenal is eager to get him given that he became the first Villa player to set such a milestone in the Premier League.

This Friday night, when Emery’s team plays Sheffield United, the star, who earns seventy-five thousand a week, will show why he’s so important to the way his team switches from defense to attack.

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