Having wasted little time in making his mark for Aston Villa, the signing of Moussa Diaby is already looking like excellent business from the club.
The 24-year-old arrived in a big-money move from Bayer Leverkusen this past summer, and so expectation levels were understandably and immediately high.
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Having shown his class in Germany, it was hoped that it would translate across to the Premier League, and we certainly haven’t been left disappointed up to this point having perhaps questioned why we didn’t face more intense competition for his signature.
Diaby has contributed two goals and two assists in five Premier League appearances thus far, and while those decisive numbers tell a story in itself, it’s the overall influence and impact that he has had in our attack which has made him all the more impressive.
With his speed, technical quality, creativity and eye for goal, he has added a fundamental new dynamic to our attack, and has raised the level with his elite ability.
Whether it’s his superb movement and intelligence on the pitch that stretches defences and gives his teammates an option or at the very least opens up space for others to exploit, or his clinical edge in front of goal that has been decisive already, Villa now have a real game-changer in the final third.
Further, we’ve seen him fit into the system and role well too, and that’s vital given the way Unai Emery wants us to play offensively, and defend as a unit, with Diaby impressing in both phases of the game.
Add his versatility to operate in various positions in our attack too, and we’ve got a player who will hopefully continue to thrive under Emery, and play a leading role in our pursuit of success this season.
There’s also been an impressive ability to build early chemistry and understanding with a number of his teammates. Whether that’s flourishing in his reunion with Leon Bailey, or linking up with the likes of Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins, Diaby just looks a great fit for this side, and we’ll hopefully see so much more from him in the coming months.
Admittedly, it is still a small sample size and we’ll need that consistency across the season for it to be really meaningful. Nevertheless, when a player of that quality is presented in front of us, it’s easy to appreciate how influential he is and can be, and hopefully we’re just seeing the start of what Diaby will offer in our pursuit of success moving forward.
Love your work, @MoussaDiaby_19. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/S5wg0pq2zV
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 17, 2023