Zion Suzuki already proving Aston Villa right for Emi Martinez decision
When Aston Villa decided to sign Zion Suzuki without certainty they had a buyer for Emi Martinez, they took a risk. When they ended up selling Martinez to Chelsea on the cheap, it looked like they had botched his exit.
Not only could they have helped a competitor for the Champions League places, but also provided an unnecessary comparison close to home for Suzuki as he tried to adjust to life in the Premier League. Shipping Martinez off to Juventus, even for less money, seemed to make more sense.
But early on, the Japanese goalkeeper has proven Villa right on their decision to pull the trigger on signing him, regardless of what that meant for Martinez and where he would end up going.
Suzuki has been an instant hit with Villa fans, and has wowed national commentators and pundits with his incredible range of passing.
It is difficult as a fan to get excited about a new goalkeeper, as usually you want to see as little of them as possible. With Suzuki, there is genuine excitement whenever he has the ball at his feet.
The 24-year-old has added another dimension to Villa’s build up. Not only do opponents have to plan for the usual process of how Villa play out from the back, but they now have to try to defend every blade of grass on the pitch, as Suzuki is capable of picking out a pass to almost anywhere.
There is a notable difference in style. Villa’s new goalkeeper has completed 48.3% of his long balls so far compared to 40.1% for Martinez last season, and he has played almost double the number of passes into the final third per 90 minutes (11 to 5.6).
Incredibly, Suzuki leads the team in passes into the final third with 44 and is well clear of the next-best player, which is Boubacar Kamara with 32.
Of course, the most important job for a goalkeeper is to keep the ball out of the net. Suzuki may have let in five goals in his four league games so far, Villa have an expected goals conceded number of 6.85 during that spell.
It is hard to argue Suzuki could have reasonably saved any of the goals he has conceded so far, and against Spurs on Saturday, he kept Villa in the game during a first-half barrage, giving them the platform to go on and earn their first Premier League victory of the season.
He was on course for a clean sheet before Villa’s outfielders seemed to take their foot off the gas and allowed two late goals. Regardless, Unai Emery has to be thrilled with what he is seeing from his new goalkeeper so far.
Suzuki ranks in the 75th percentile for save percentage early in the season, the 79th percentile for high claims – something Martinez excelled in and Suzuki has replicated – and leads the league in the number of times he has acted as a sweeper.
According to football ratings site WhoScored, Suzuki has been the 6th best ‘keeper in the Premier League so far, earning an average match rating of 6.94. Martinez is in 9th with an average rating of 6.74.
Replacing the impact Martinez had at Villa, not only in terms of ability but mentality, was always going to be difficult, but Suzuki is thriving, and his calm demeanour is a refreshing change from the eccentric, sometimes erratic persona of Martinez.
Right now, Villa look absolutely vindicated for the switch they made at goalkeeper this summer.
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