Aston Villa have been crying out for some defensive solidity so far this season with just two clean sheets in the Premier League and a lack of consistency in the back line, and it seems they’ve found their answer.
Unai Emery has tried a whole host of different options with nine players featuring in the defence across the opening 15 Premier League games.
With Villan’s injury crisis and individual errors from Villa’s defensive players causing them to have to experiment, it is safe to say that Emery’s side have struggled to keep the ball out the back of their own net.
But with Emery often preferring to have multiple players in the same position that offer different skillsets, he could have just the man to bring some much needed stability when his team are under pressure.
Boubacar Kamara is Aston Villa’s defensive saviour
Boubacar Kamara suffered a horrific ACL injury back in February in a defeat to Manchester United after signing for the club back in 2022 on a reported free transfer and has suffered with some misfortune since joining the club.
Kamara has recently returned to action for Villa making 10 appearances in all competitions this season and has looked excellent since his return, breaking up play and transitioning Villa’s play from defence to attack quickly.
The 25 year old sits in the double pivot role primarily alongside Youri Tielemans and offers the defensive cover, whilst allowing Tielemans to roam further forward.
He also provides an alternative option to big money signing Amadou Onana as they play the same role very differently allowing Emery to have the option of switching between the two depending on the opponent.
Kamara’s impact so far
Looking at the Premier League data gathered by FBref.com comparing Kamara and Onana, it is clear to see that they specialise in different areas despite the difference in minutes played.
Onana is more of a physical presence, he is more of a traditional defensive midfielder. Whereas, Kamara is slightly more progressive he is more comfortable on the ball and also offers a slightly more mobile option.
| Defensive Midfielder | Pass Completion Percentage | Tackles Won Per90 | Interceptions Per90 | Blocks Per90 | Progressive Carries Per90 |
| Kamara | 91.9% | 1.03 | 1.72 | 1.38 | 1.38 |
| Onana | 89.3% | 1.92 | 2.05 | 1.15 | 1.03 |
Both midfielders have a lot to offer in different situations. Against teams that have a a more physical presence, pose a set-piece threat and are looking to get crosses into the box frequently, Onana is the obvious option.
For an opponent who looks to sit deep and will require Villa to press consistently and be patient with the ball, Kamara offers more quality in that role.
