After a memorable week for Aston Villa, a continuing theme in our progression under Unai Emery is the impact from our captain, John McGinn.
Wins over Manchester City and Arsenal have not only solidified our position in the top four in the Premier League table, but it has led to increasing outside noise about our realistic aspirations for this season.
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The message from within the club for the most part is one calling for focus and to remain humble, but such has been the turnaround since Emery’s appointment, this isn’t just a short upturn in form.
Naturally, there will be a dip at some stage where we struggle for results. However, having built a squad capable of implementing his tactical plans and style of football to create a clear identity and direction, long-term foundations have been put in place and a reaction is now expected to any setback.
We could look right across the pitch for individuals who have been fundamental to the process thus far and who have flourished since Emery’s arrival just over a year ago. The goals from Ollie Watkins, the decisive weekly saves from Emi Martinez, the way in which Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara control things in midfield and pull the strings.
However, one player has stood out in particular over the past seven days, and that is McGinn.
Adopting a more general assessment, the 29-year-old managed just one goal and three assists in 36 appearances last season. In 24 outings so far in this campaign, he’s contributed six goals and three assists.
That in itself tells a story about his transformation under Emery, but when you assess his performances against Man City and Arsenal in particular, the influence he has for us in both phases of the game is exceptional.
“He’s super John McGinn for us,” Konsa told the media after our win at the weekend.. “He’s our skipper. He gives us a lot. He energises the team.
“You can see that on the pitch. He’s pressing and his mentality it’s amazing. He does a lot for us and he obviously got the goal tonight.”
We know all about his tenacity, energy, determination and defensive contribution, and invariably when McGinn plays well and sets the tone and standard, the rest of the team follow. That sentiment is echoed by Konsa’s comments above, and it’s a crucial factor in the level of our performance if our skipper is on form.
That said, perhaps the more impressive aspect of his influence now is just how much quality he’s showing in the attacking phase through his positional play, awareness and technical ability in possession.
McGinn’s role has been tweaked by Emery in that although he generally starts in a wide position in midfield, he’ll drift inside and occupy spaces between the lines to link our play together.
We’ve lost count of the number of times he’s received the ball, spun away from his marker and turned into space to go direct at the opposition’s defence before either creating an opening himself, or setting us on our way to unlocking the backline.
While he already boasts plenty of experience at a high level, McGinn has certainly matured further under Emery, and is clearly developing different attributes to his game as he becomes an all-rounder with the ability to be decisive in both phases.
The Villa boss will need to manage him as it’s a long, gruelling season. The Scottish international gives absolutely everything in every game he features in, and so it’s vital that we ensure he’s got the legs in the second half of the campaign to keep us going.
However, he has undoubtedly become an indispensable figure under Emery, and his ability to be a driving force both physically and emotionally for the rest of the squad to follow his lead, arguably makes him more influential than any other player in the current Villa squad.
This is football. 👌
Emery Ball in full flow! 😍 pic.twitter.com/Cy18WxMQFg
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 10, 2023
