Aston Villa's well-documented difficulties from the penalty spot over the past eighteen months might finally be coming to an end, thanks to the strategic acquisitions of two new players. Manager Unai Emery has been grappling with this issue, but the recent transfer moves could offer a much-needed resolution to a problem that has plagued the team's performance in crucial moments.
Villa's Recent Penalty Record Highlights the Issue
Although Aston Villa have not been awarded a penalty in the Premier League this season, there is little confidence they would convert one if given the opportunity. Across all competitions this campaign, Villa have taken three penalties—all in the Europa League—and scored only one. That successful effort came from Donyell Malen against Maccabi Tel Aviv, but he has since departed the club.
Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia both missed spot-kicks earlier in the league phase, compounding the issue. Last season, Villa missed four of the ten penalties they were awarded, with only six converted. Marcus Rashford scored two, while Marco Asensio and Jhon Duran each netted one. Watkins managed two goals but also missed another chance, and Youri Tielemans failed to convert against Crystal Palace.
Douglas Luiz's Return Brings Proven Reliability
In the 2023/24 season, Villa's penalty record was stronger, largely due to Douglas Luiz. He took all six spot-kicks that season, scoring five and missing only one—against Olympiacos in the Conference League semi-final first leg. His successful penalties came against teams like Burnley, Everton, Hibernian, Crystal Palace, and West Ham.
Villa are now set to re-sign Luiz on loan with an option to buy, as Unai Emery addresses a midfield injury crisis that has sidelined key players such as John McGinn, Tielemans, and Boubacar Kamara. His return could immediately restore a dependable penalty taker to the squad, offering a boost in confidence during high-pressure situations.
Tammy Abraham Adds Impressive Conversion Record
Meanwhile, Tammy Abraham has joined Villa in an £18 million deal after a strong first half of the season at Besiktas. Excluding reserve and England youth level football, Abraham has scored fifteen penalties in his senior career, missing just three. This gives him an impressive success rate of approximately 80 per cent from the spot.
During his 2018/19 loan spell at Villa, Abraham netted six penalties, missing only once in an away match at Rotherham. He famously scored the decisive spot-kick in the Championship play-off semi-final shootout at The Hawthorns. Additionally, he converted all three penalties he took for Roma, while missing one each for AC Milan and Besiktas.
Potential Impact on Villa's Future Performance
With Douglas Luiz's proven reliability and Tammy Abraham's strong conversion record, Aston Villa may finally possess the necessary tools to overcome their penalty woes. This could be a game-changer for Unai Emery's tactics, providing more assurance in critical matches and potentially improving the team's overall results.
The combination of these two signings not only addresses the immediate need for reliable penalty takers but also strengthens the squad depth, offering Emery more options in attack and midfield. As Villa continue to compete in various competitions, having players who can confidently step up to the spot could make a significant difference in tight games.
