Brilliant Bailey is Emery's latest Villa success story

Leon Bailey is the latest success story of Unai Emery's Aston Villa reign.

The Jamaican has been a player transformed this season and recently inspired Villa to eye-catching wins over Manchester City and Arsenal that lifted them to third in the Premier League.

With the Villans looking to secure top spot in their Europa Conference League group against Zrinjski Mostar tonight, we look at Bailey's rebirth under Emery.

Star man

While it was hard to find a poor performance from a Villa star in their statement win over City, few would disagree that Bailey shone the brightest.

The 26-year-old put in an electric display against the Treble winners, tormenting Josko Gvardiol for much of the game and scoring the winner in the 74th minute.

Bailey exerted so much energy during that win that he only lasted 45 minutes of the game against Arsenal a few days later — but the forward still set up John McGinn's winner after just six minutes.

Finally clicking

Bailey has contributed eight goals and seven assists in 22 games this season — already his best return in a Villa shirt.

The 27-cap international arrived for £30million from Bayer Leverkusen with plenty of expectation having been one of the three players signed to replace former captain and talisman Jack Grealish.

During his first campaign in England, Bailey often struggled under that weight of expectation despite his vast talent never being in doubt. 

But he is now showing his quality on a regular basis — whether that be off the bench or from the start.

After the City win, he told TNT Sports: "It is [emotional] because I struggled a lot during my first season here. 

"I always knew what I'm capable of but sometimes it's very difficult so I'm really glad that I can have the people believe in me like they did tonight."

The Emery effect

The underlying numbers show the transformative effect Emery has had on Bailey's game, particularly during the current campaign.

In his first season at Villa in 2021-22, Bailey managed just one goal and two assists in 18 Premier League games. 

Last season he had four of each in 33 outings. This term, he has five strikes and four assists in only top-flight 14 appearances — managing a goal contribution every 65 minutes.

Bailey's creativity has steadily improved too, creating 2.13 chances per 90 minutes this campaign compared to 0.83 in 2021-22. 

He is now completing 2.74 take-ons each game having successfully beaten a man only 1.55 times per 90 when he arrived.

Winning Emery's trust

But perhaps the most crucial improvement in Bailey's game under Emery's tutelage is his improvement off the ball.

He won possession back in the attacking third only 0.6 and 0.5 times per 90 minutes during his first two campaigns. 

This term, he has boosted that number to 1.22 to help give Villa more impetus when pressing teams from the front.

But he has also stepped up his game in the defensive third, jumping from 1.19 possessions won in 2021-22 to 2.59 now.

Having usurped summer signing Moussa Diaby's starting berth in the Premier League of late, there is every chance he may be rested from the start in Bosnia this evening.

But with three goals and three assists across the Conference League group stage and qualifying, do not bet against him having a further say should he be called upon.