Aston Villa’s midfield maestro Youri Tielemans was frozen out at the start of the season but is now playing a crucial role in Unai Emery’s system.
Tielemans was captured on a free transfer from Leicester City after a difficult final season at the King Power.
Despite his struggles as the Foxes were relegated to the Championship, several big clubs were interested in wrapping up a transfer for such a talented midfielder.
It was suggested in the summer that Mikel Arteta was looking at bringing the high-class operator to Arsenal, however, the Gunners had other things on their mind, such as trying to get a deal done for Declan Rice.
Instead, Villa pounced at the opportunity to sign Tielemans, who became their first signing of the summer transfer window.
A low-risk move on a free transfer with potentially high rewards, Unai Emery was hoping he would see the Tielemans of old at Villa Park, the one that helped the Foxes win the FA Cup and consistently challenge for Europe.
Of course, it has taken a while for the 26-year-old to acclimatize to his new surroundings and he’s had a lot of competition to contend with, especially from the likes of Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Douglas Luiz.
However, he’s taken his opportunity to impress Emery and is now enjoying an extended run in the team.
Tielemans is showing his ‘special’ talent at Aston Villa
It took Tielemans until the victory over Fulham at the end of October to make his first Premier League start of the season.
And he’s since showcased why Wes Morgan labelled him as ‘special’ during his time at Leicester.
Tielemans is a technically gifted and smart player, known for optimizing space and progressing with the ball.
Aided by his exquisite passing range, the Belgian maestro can thread passes through the eye of a needle.
In recent weeks, his calmness in possession has been crucial in helping Villa secure victories over Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Arsenal.
He’s grabbed two assists across those fixtures, slotting through an inch-perfect pass into Ollie Watkins for his well-taken finish at Spurs while assisting Leon Bailey with a clever flick for his solo effort against Man City.
Tielemans is a smart footballer, whose press resistance can help him manoeuvre out of tight situations and keep play ticking over.
During his recent run in the team, the £150k-a-week star has been deployed just in-behind Watkins and he’s beginning to build an understanding with the striker on the pitch.
When the Englishman makes a darting run beyond the defence, Tielemans can pick him out with an inch-perfect pass.
It’s that level of understanding that has been crucial to Villa’s success in matches, particularly in recent weeks, as the introduction of the 65-cap international has helped Emery’s side retain possession in those big matches.
Tielemans is looking like he’s back to his best and that is a joy to behold for any football supporter.
