A new time

Law wrote on  “I hope Jacob Ramsey will not be sidelined for another 2/3 months. Recurring ankle injuries are not considered as serious as the original injury. Some say it could last longer than six weeks.

While the 22-year-old could be considered a more advanced midfielder, he has also played as a No. 8 and out wide on many occasions as Emery favors the tough but flexible counter-attacking style of play that Ramsey carried out to devastating effect last season.

His stats, compared to other midfielders in Europe, are impressive and Emery will certainly miss his ability to change games.

line on Jacob Ramsey’s expected injury absence has now emerged, meaning Nicolo Zaniolo now has a vital chance to force Unai Emery into an early decision against Aston Villa.

Telegraph journalist Matt Law, posting on his personal Twitter account (October 6), estimated that Ramsey would have to miss several months and initial suggestions suggested he might be absent for 6 weeks.

The 22-year-old will be absent due to a recurring ankle injury, although this is not considered as serious as the original setback.

According to Opta’s statistics on FBREF, Ramsey appears to be one of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League, ranking in the top 20% of opponents for goals (0.21 per 90) and assists ( 0.18 for 90).

He also sits impressively in the 96th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 minutes, 94th percentile for assists per 90 minutes, 94th for touches in the box attacking every 90 minutes – such contributions in the box have been missed, which has certainly affected Ollie Watkins’ start to the season. form.

He also averages 3.71 progressive carries per 90 minutes which puts him in the top two per cent and his touches in the attacking penalty box are in the top five per cent.

Even when compared to number 10s and wingers, his work off the ball is commendable and it’s why Emery and Aston Villa will sorely miss him while he faces more weeks out.

However, the Spaniard has a certain solution in the form of on-loan Galatasaray forward Zaniolo who can also perform the roles that Ramsey has performed on occasion for Emery.

Though, it’s been a rather struggling bedding-in period for the Italian international who has so far failed to set Villa Park alight on a consistent basis.

One of his worst performances came in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on 16 September where he won just four of his 12 total duels, barely touched the ball with just 37 touches to his name and 14/18 out of successful passes, completed just one of his four dribbles at a 25% success rate while also losing possession of the ball 15 times [SofaScore].

Against Brighton on 30 September in a 6-1 win, it was a similar trend, barely touching the ball for his team with 20 touches, completing just three of his passes and failing to complete any of his four dribbles, won one of his 13 ground duels at a dreadful rate of 7%, lost possession of the ball eleven times and registered zero key passes also giving away four fouls [SofaScore].

Given he only just signed on the dotted line at Villa Park, Zaniolo still has a lot of acclimatising to do to get to grips with life in the West Midlands and such form may well have been as a result of him not assured of guaranteed minutes in a Villa shirt, with Ramsey returning to full fitness.

However, now with the Villa Park fan favourite out for another extended period, that now gives Zaniolo some respite to gain the consistency he needs to deliver every week for the Villans.

He impressed in the 1-0 win over Bulgarian side Zrinjski in the Europa Conference League on Thursday (October 5), scoring two key passes and winning three duels, but he hardly did not touch the ball during 90 minutes on the field with only 35 touches of the ball. . [SofaScore] but it was an encouraging performance, more so than his last two matches.

With Ramsey out of action, Zaniolo can now enjoy a series of matches and perhaps this is his chance to force Emery into deciding on an immediate transfer to make the loan deal permanent, especially is when Aston Villa is ‘lacking in numbers in attack’.

What an opportunity for the Italian to once again make a name for himself.