Aston Villa vs Wolves: How Youri Tielemans became the heartbeat of Emery's Villa machine

Aston Villa are flying. Nine points from 12 to begin the Premier League season - following genuine upheaval over the summer that threatened to derail the club’s progress - plus a perfect start in the Champions League has spirits in the sky. It’s been enough to keep sentiments in the positive despite the football being played against a backdrop of rightful fan outrage at ticket prices and declining facilities at Villa Park.  

On the pitch at least, there’s been global headlines everywhere you look. World Cup winner Emi Martinez signed another new contract, £50m man Amadou Onana has already scored three goals from midfield, Jhon Duran’s already sewn up the Goal of the Season competition and the long-awaited return to the Champions League began with a thumping victory. 

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A little closer to home, though, the attention has been on the brilliance of Youri Tielemans, who can lay a claim - amid serious competition - to be Villa’s best performer so far this campaign. 

He began with an assist inside four minutes, lifting in a lovely corner for Onana to head home against West Ham. He controlled the midfield in the win over Leicester City, then delivered a whopping 126 accurate passes against Everton - the most of any player in a Premier League match so far this season - as he ran the show. 

Youri Tielemans made 126 accurate passes in Aston Villa's 3-2 win over Everton on Saturday, a record in a Premier League match this season. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/hq9UeJwidg

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 15, 2024

The nature of his role - deep in midfield in a slower, possession-focused team - means a lot of his work is shorter range stuff, but he’s also delivering penetrative passes when the opportunity arises: It was his searching ball forward to Lucas Digne that Jack Harrison accidentally diverted to Ollie Watkins for the equaliser. 

Three days later, he scored Aston Villa’s first Champions League goal of the campaign, then technically registered an assist for Onana’s late strike too. Everywhere you look, it’s Tielemans, Tielemans, Tielemans. 

His 7.11 average WhoScored rating in the Premier League is Villa’s second-highest behind Digne. He’s delivered the most key passes (7), won the most tackles (9), played by far the most progressive passes (25) and comfortably the most balls into the final third (40) of anyone on in his team. He was also named Player of the Match against Young Boys. 

This is all in stark contrast to how last season began. After signing for the club, he barely made an imprint on the first team up until the first international break, then voiced his displeasure over playing time when asked about it: "This situation is not pleasant. I told the coach [Unai Emery] that I came to Villa to play. He understands me, but at the moment he prefers to play with his two midfielders from last season." 

The situation is very different now. With Douglas Luiz sold and Boubacar Kamara injured, Villa’s midfield is now Tielemans’ midfield. He’s crucial to Emery’s approach, a true signal controller in the centre. Onana is a complimentary piece that offers the elements his compatriot cannot. Together, they’re an impenetrable pair.