Aston Villa have been known for their fast starts in matches during the 2023/24 season.
It’s a tactic Unai Emery employs, with the Spaniard eager for his side to take advantage of the opposition’s slow start.
Unfortunately, their fast starts have failed to materialise in Villa’s most recent Premier League fixtures. Tottenham weathered the relatively small storm thrown their way, and the less said about Villa’s first half against West Ham, the better.
It’s a tactic the Spaniard will be eager to utilise to his side’s advantage when the Premier League resumes after the international break.
Aston Villa top Premier League early goal charts
Courtesy of Playmakerstats, the Villans have scored more goals in the first 30 minutes than any other Premier League team.
Only MK Dons have been more prolific in the top four divisions regarding finding the back of the net in the first third of matches.
Arsenal are currently closest to Emery’s men in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s side have scored 20 goals in the opening stages of the matches.
It’s undoubtedly an impressive feat from Aston Villa and an excellent explanation for why they’ve been so ruthless at home for much of the season. Away sides will naturally sit back when visiting Villa Park, which has allowed the likes of Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey to pile on the pressure from the outset.
Villa’s talismanic striker has scored seven goals during the first half, which indicates the period in games when the Villans are most dominant. Furthermore, just one of those goals came after the 30th minute. It’s a similar story for Bailey, who has netted five times before the 30th minute (stats per Transfermarkt).
Ahead of the Premier League’s return, Emery must look to return to starting fast. It’s given Villa an edge during large parts of the season and could rectify their recent drop in form. The upcoming break will certainly allow the Villa boss to assess what hasn’t quite gone right in recent weeks.
