While Unai Emery has had a positive influence on numerous Aston Villa players so far, one who has raised his level significantly is Tyrone Mings.
The 30-year-old has been an almost ever-present under the Spaniard in the Premier League, playing every single minute of every game so far barring the defeat at Man City last month, a game in which his presence at the back was sorely missed and his absence very much evident.
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While it could be argued that Emery doesn’t have a wealth of options in that department with Diego Carlos sidelined throughout, this season has been, and will continue to be, a process in which he will analyse and assess the players at his disposal to determine who forms part of his long-term plans and where we might need to strengthen.
With that in mind, the challenge was clear for Mings in terms of solidifying his place in the Villa XI, and while he has always been an important figure in our backline, he has really started to adapt and adjust well to Emery’s demands.
Yes, we can continue to bring up and talk about his susceptibility to making an error, and they can often prove to be costly.
However, he is finding consistency in his performances now to eradicate those from his game, and while no player is perfect, his positive influence on our displays week in and week out far outweighs the occasional mistake, even though ideally there would be none at all.
As seen in the tweet below from the club, Mings has been particularly superb in our recent four-game unbeaten run, helping us to three wins and a draw while we’ve scored seven goals and conceded just one while keeping three clean sheets.
Villa haven’t conceded in open play since our 4-2 defeat to Arsenal on February 18, and while that’s down to the entire XI collectively putting in a real shift, Mings has played a fundamental role in us rediscovering our defensive solidity.
His aerial prowess is vital for us as we’re lacking alternative options who can command the box like he does with his ability to clear danger from deliveries into the area, while his reading of the game and physicality have also been key characteristics to shore up our defence.
Further, we know how important it is for our backline to be able to play out from the back under Emery, as it’s a key principle of the identity and style of play that he is trying to implement and establish at Villa.
In turn, seeing Mings with an 88 percent passing accuracy across this four-game stretch is equally as important, as he’s showing more composure and technical quality to build our play slowly rather than play hopeful long balls forward.
He also emerged as an offensive threat last time out against Bournemouth, grabbing an assist for Emi Buendia’s goal while almost getting on the scoresheet himself with a late chance. While that’s arguably a bonus, we do need to be more threatening from set-pieces and he is an obvious target who can pose danger, but his main focus is on the defence and keeping clean sheets.
Beyond the numbers as well, his leadership and organisation is crucial for us, and as he continues to gain experience and adapt to playing at a higher level under an elite coach, it’s hoped that he can continue to mature and grow into a top-level centre-half who will play a pivotal role in our ongoing development and progress.
📊 @TyroneMings' last four games:
91% aerial duels won (11/12)
88% pass accuracy (275/311)
3 clean sheets
1 clearance off the line
1 assistColossal. 👏 pic.twitter.com/QkGzxWygP6
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 20, 2023
