Aston Villa news: Leon Bailey set to replace £33m star after news update - pundit
Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested Leon Bailey is ready to take Emiliano Buendia's place in the Aston Villa starting XI.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Aston Villa's record Premier League goalscorer claimed Buendia "didn't do anything" during his side's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday (19 March).
Bailey, 24, came on and Buendia, a £33million signing last summer (2021), went off in a double change with just over 20 minutes to go during the defeat.
The Jamaican's agent and step-father Craig Butler told Birmingham Live on Monday (21 March) now he is injury free Bailey is ready to make a difference under Steven Gerrard.
"When I looked at the game, even when Aston Villa got the ball I felt Arsenal dealt with our two number 10s very easily," Agbonlahor told Football Insider's Connor Whitley.
"They weren't getting on the ball, they weren't creating space for each other, they weren't running in behind to help Watkins.
"The system worked when Gerrard first came in so I think it can work but those two were very poor. Buendia didn't do anything and Coutinho was very poor.
"When you play as a number 10 it's a luxury position where you've got to make something happen. If you don't then it's the first position where you are going to get subbed. You can roam, make things happen but if you don't, you're going to get brought off.
"It was inevitable that Buendia was going to be brought off. Fair play to Gerrard, he brought on Bailey who looked very bright.
"He said Danny Ings didn't start because of a slight knock but if he had started he would have made runs in behind.
"It's not always on to come into feet as two number 10s. Arsenal nullified those two quite well.
"If I'm Leon Bailey I'm looking to try and prove to the manager next game."