Aston Villa transformed under Unai Emery since Steven Gerrard departure | Form and attacking returns analysed | Football News

Aston Villa may have suffered an FA Cup defeat at League Two Stevenage last Sunday, but their league form is improving under Unai Emery – so what’s behind them?

Villa has won 10 points from a possible 15 ahead of the game against Leeds on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.

To put that into context, only five teams have won more points since Spain officially took over on November 1.

The biggest improvement is seen in attack: the Villans have scored nine goals in five Premier League games. In contrast, they have found the back of the net just 11 times in their opening 13 games – four of which came in the home win against Brentford under Aaron Danks on 23 October.

Villa are averaging 1.8 goals per game under the new boss, compared to just 0.6 goals per game this season under previous manager Steven Gerrard.

What makes this even more impressive is that Villa averaged higher in some attacking metrics under Gerrard. However, the big improvement in recent games has been shot conversions, which have tripled since Emery took charge.

One of the criticisms towards the end of Gerrard’s time in charge was the lack of a preferred style of play or system.

In his 11 league games in charge this season, Gerrard has used four different formations and 21 different players – with his preferred starting 4-3-3 system.

Emery has stuck to a 4-4-2 formation in his five league games in charge, but has used 22 different players.

Midfielder John McGinn is the only outfield player to start every league game under Gerrard this season, while five have been named in all games under Emery: Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne, Douglas Luiz and Emi Buendia.

On the surface, the 4-4-2 formation looks more defensive – but this system has fueled Villa’s attacking players.

Leon Bailey, Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins have five goals and two assists between them in the Premier League under Emery. In 11 games under Gerrard, the trio combined for just three goals and three assists.

Ings and Watkins’ strike rates have increased under Emery and the three forwards have more touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes.

Watkins has scored three goals in eight appearances in all competitions under Danks and Emery this season, compared to one in 12 under Gerrard.

In the Premier League, Watkins had more touches per 90 minutes (33.7) under Gerrard during that period, compared to Emery (28.1).

However, a greater percentage of those touches came in the opposition box under Emery (21.8 per cent) than under Gerrard (14.2 per cent).

The graphic below shows how Watkins increased his activity in the central area, further forward.

The Villans also appear to have switched their preferred flank to launch attacks. The left channel was used more under Gerrard, but most of Villa’s attacks have been down the right under Emery.

Emery’s three Premier League wins with Villa have come against teams currently in the top eight and, for the most part this season, the Villans’ record has been better against top teams – with 13 points against teams currently in the top 10 and just nine against the bottom sides -half.

The Spaniard will be hoping there is no hangover from the Stevenage defeat when he faces Jesse Marsch’s Leeds at Villa Park, as he looks to improve on his poor record against the bottom side.