‘They’re not the team they were’ – should Aston Villa be worried after winless start?

Umir Irfan, BBC Sport football tactics correspondent

Villa’s problems this season under Emery come from remaining too static in a number of departments.

Comparing their build-up play from 2023-2024 to this season shows little difference – there has been a continuous league-wide improvement in how well teams press so a largely unchanged build-up can be nullified more often. Predictable build-up play without ball-playing defenders like out-of-favour Pau Torres add to Villa’s difficulties in possession.

When Emery’s side were in good form, they faced deep defences less often, instead attacking quickly against teams pushing up.

Teams are aware of Villa’s preference to attack quickly and have set up in compact defensive shapes deeper. This has prevented Villa playing in a way that suits striker Ollie Watkins. Newcastle played in this way earlier this season and their system exposed Aston Villa’s weaknesses well.

With Marcus Rashford, Leon Bailey, Marco Asensio, and Jacob Ramsey leaving the club, Villa are severely lacking in the wide areas. Emery has used central midfielders Emi Buendia, John McGinn, and Morgan Rodgers as their wide players this season.

Eddie Howe’s men set up in a centrally compact 4-5-1. Sunderland blocked the centre of the pitch, too, in their 5-3-1 shape following the red card. The wide players mentioned above like to move into central areas so both midfield set-ups blocked the space they would typically move into.

If there was any space, it was in the flanks, with Matty Cash and Lucas Digne the players given the most time and space to attack. More natural wide attackers here would improve Villa against stubborn defences.

Emery’s pragmatism has been on show this season, perhaps to his detriment as he has been reluctant to use more natural wide players in Harvey Elliott or Ian Maatsen.

Following the draw with Sunderland, Emery also branded his players “lazy”. There are clear tactical questions that require answers but there is a concern that some players are becoming less receptive to the Spaniard’s method too.