---
title: "Statistics sum up why Anwar El Ghazi has fallen out of favour"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/22/opinion-anwar-el-ghazi-aston-villa-statistics-dean-smith-dropped/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-02-22T15:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-02-22T15:00:00Z"
---

# Statistics sum up why Anwar El Ghazi has fallen out of favour

[Anwar El Ghazi](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/18/anwar-el-ghazi-tells-aston-villa-to-sign-dusan-tadic/) underperformed in [Aston Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Leicester City](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/february/Aston-Villa-1-2-Leicester-City/) and was substituted in the second half of Sunday’s clash, so he might lose his place in the starting lineup when the Claret and Blues travel to face Leeds United on Saturday.

The 25-year-old failed to register a shot or deliver an accurate cross and centre-back Ezri Konsa created as many chances as he did at Villa Park. No Villa player was dispossessed more often and no Villa player had more unsupported touches ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1485432/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2020-2021-Aston-Villa-Leicester)), so El Ghazi didn’t do himself any favours.

He looks a shadow of the player he had been at the tail-end of 2020, having so far failed to score or provide assist in 2021 compared to the five goals he scored in five league games before New Year’s Day ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/anwar-el-ghazi/leistungsdaten/spieler/183720/saison/2020/plus/1#GB1)). However, after firing blanks in Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at the start of January, he was surprisingly dropped for Bertrand Traore and hasn’t managed to recover.

Dean Smith has soured on the Dutch international too, handing him only [two starts from their last eight games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/anwar-el-ghazi/leistungsdaten/spieler/183720/saison/2020/plus/1#GB1) and leaving him on the bench three times. Jack Grealish had operated in El Ghazi’s preferred role and the 25-year-old didn’t manage to impress whenever called upon, so Trezeguet might now be the one to benefit while [Grealish is sidelined with injury](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/21/aston-villa-jack-grealish-leicester-city-injury/).

**READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT**

El Ghazi is a real goal threat and highly creative player on his day, but he is not having much of an effect in the final third right now and continues to be hauled off by his manager.

It would be a surprise if he keeps his place against Leeds, but being dropped is sure to knock his confidence only a few weeks after it had been soaring.