Aston Villa are once again represented in the Premier League team of the week, this time by captain John McGinn.
Following our 3-1 win over Fulham on Sunday, it was expected that we would have a contingent in contention, but selector Alan Shearer has only made one selection, with our captain being the only one to make the cut.
It’s certainly deserved given that he not only scored to double our lead at a critical point in the game to make a decisive impact, but he was also influential throughout with his defensive and attacking play.
McGinn finished the game with one goal, 54 touches, 73 percent passing accuracy, one key pass, seven of nine successful dribble attempts, and winning 15 of 22 duels while making one tackle and one interception.
His performance earned him praise from Villa boss Unai Emery, as the Scottish International increased his tally to five goals and three assists in 19 appearances this season, as his influence in the final third continues to improve under the Spaniard.
“He is himself very demanding,” Emery said of McGinn after the game, according to BirminghamLive. “He is a competitive player who is always physically prepared to play. He rests when he is not training or playing, but his energy is never depleted! He is a great example. He is consistent in his efforts to assist and be with us, setting a good example for other players.
“I appreciate how he is as a person, and he is fantastic as a professional.” His connection here, his long-term commitment to the fans, Aston Villa, and the project, he was coming here in the Championship. He’s a player I admire, and I need to set a good example for others.”
McGinn, like many of his teammates, has benefited from Emery’s influence and impact since his appointment a year ago, as despite having to adjust and adapt to a new role, he is consistently excelling to lead the way in our ongoing progression.
We’ve grown accustomed to his tenacity and work ethic in imposing himself on games, and while that remains critical to how we play, his technical quality and passing has become critical in how we break down teams.
In turn, it’s a well-deserved spot in this week’s Premier League team of the week, but looking at the big picture, we’re getting more from our captain, who is often the one to set the tone and standard from midfield, and over the past two seasons, when he does have a goal involvement, Villa have won that game.
We’ll need him and the rest of the squad to be fully fit and in top form after the international break if we’re to maintain our impressive start to the season, and we’ll hopefully see Villa players making the weekly XI on a more consistent basis.
