Aston Villa is experiencing a ‘Golden Age’ coinciding with the first anniversary of Unai Emery’s arrival. The ‘villains’ are currently fifth in the Premier League, with only City (81), Arsenal (74), and Liverpool (71) surpassing their 68 points. Additionally, they have achieved 11 consecutive home victories.
One of the main reasons for this success is Douglas Luiz, a former Girona player who has become one of the stars of the English league. The Vasco da Gama academy graduate, who has long been pursued by Arsenal, made history with a brace against West Ham (4-1), surpassing the legendary Dwight Yorke (5) and becoming the first Villa player to score in six consecutive Premier League home matches.
“I am experiencing a moment of fulfillment in my team, with my teammates, and in my family. Everyone has contributed to the level I am showing,” said Douglas Luiz, who was named the ‘MVP’ against West Ham. The Brazilian international is currently the sixth top scorer in the Premier League 2023-24, with five goals, three of which were penalties. Only Haaland (9), Son (7), Salah (7), Bowen (6), and Isak (6) have scored more.
Douglas Luiz’s goal-scoring ability has multiplied under Emery. He has scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 41 matches, more than double his tally under Gerrard (four goals in 38 matches) and almost four times more than under Dean Smith (three goals in 84 matches). Interestingly, during his time at Girona, he failed to score in 46 matches.
“Alan Shearer points out that Douglas Luiz is laying the foundations for Villa’s success and did not hesitate to include him in his ‘Team of the Week’. Paul Merson stated, “He is the most underrated player in the entire Premier League.” He is also a key player in set-pieces, being the tenth player with the most corners in the English league (25).
‘Opta’, through ‘The Analyst’, highlights Douglas Luiz’s work off the ball, describing him as the “next £100 million midfielder.” They emphasize his numbers, as he averages the most recoveries per 90 minutes (7.3) and is the second most successful tackler (14) among Villa players.
However, Douglas Luiz still has unfinished business. “I work towards goals, and returning to Brazil is one of my priorities. I hope that, at the right moment, my sacrifice will be rewarded,” says the former Girona player, who has been capped nine times for his country.
What milestone did Douglas Luiz achieve in the match against West Ham and how does it solidify his status as a rising talent in the English league
Rewritten article:
Aston Villa is currently enjoying a fantastic run, which coincides with the first anniversary of Unai Emery’s arrival. The team, known as the ‘villains’, currently sits in fifth place in the Premier League standings. Only City, Arsenal, and Liverpool have managed to surpass their impressive tally of 68 points. Furthermore, Aston Villa has accomplished a remarkable feat of 11 consecutive home victories.
The key to their success can be attributed to the outstanding performances of Douglas Luiz, a former player for Girona. Luiz has emerged as one of the brightest stars in the English league. Starting his career at the Vasco da Gama academy, Luiz has been a target for Arsenal for quite some time. However, he has decided to make history with Aston Villa instead.
In an exceptional display against West Ham, Luiz achieved a memorable milestone by scoring two goals in a 4-1 victory. This extraordinary performance further cements his status as one of the rising talents in the English league.
What an incredible time for Aston Villa! Emery’s arrival has brought a new energy to the team, and those 11 consecutive victories speak for themselves. And let’s not forget Douglas Luiz, his stellar performances have been a joy to watch. Keep up the great work, Villa!