Emi Buendía’s stats offer Aston Villa a reason to look beyond his attacking returns when assessing his start to the Premier League season.
The Argentine has one goal and no assists from five appearances. His contribution without the ball adds useful context to that modest return.
According to FotMob’s Premier League figures, Buendía has recorded nine tackles, four interceptions and 20 recoveries across 404 minutes.
Those actions deserve attention alongside the spectacular finishing highlighted in our assessment of Buendía’s role in Villa’s rebuilt attack.
What Emi Buendía’s stats tell Aston Villa
Winning possession and interrupting opposition moves are important responsibilities for an attacking player. A goal-and-assist tally cannot capture them.
Buendía’s figures suggest he is contributing to that work, although they cannot establish how consistently he follows Emery’s instructions. Tackles and recoveries alone do not measure positioning, pressing decisions or the spaces a player protects.
There is also a distinction between activity and effectiveness. Buendía has won 26 duels, but his overall duel success rate stands at 42.6 per cent.
That makes sweeping claims about defensive dominance difficult to justify.
The reasonable conclusion is narrower: his early-season contribution includes defensive work that deserves consideration when judging his performances.
Villa still need greater attacking influence
There remains room for improvement in possession.
Buendía has created five chances and managed two shots on target in those five league appearances. His Tottenham goal was a reminder of his quality, but Villa need that threat more regularly.
For Emery, the selection question involves balancing those demands. Defensive effort matters, particularly when a team must spend periods without the ball. An attacking midfielder also needs to help create and finish opportunities.
The next step for Buendía is to combine both more consistently.
His defensive contribution gives him something to build on after the international break. Increasing his influence around the opposition penalty area would make the case for his continued selection stronger.
