‘Starting to show’: Mikel Arteta impressed by how far 22-year-old Aston Villa ace has come

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has waxed lyrical about Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz ahead of the Gunners hosting the Villans in the Premier League on Sunday.

The 22-year-old became Villa’s 10th summer signing following promotion to the top flight in 2019 when he joined from Manchester City in a reported £15million deal.

It took a while for Luiz to acclimatise to Premier League first-team action, largely impressing in flashes but also showing inconsistency.

However, he is now one of the first names on Dean Smith’s team sheet and a fan favourite in claret and blue.

With Arsenal taking on the Villans at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, Arteta spoke to Football London pre-match and had kind words for Luiz, a player he worked with at the Etihad.

Asked about where Smith’s charges have improved from last season, the Spaniard said: “I think they have a better understanding with the players. They’ve worked with the manager for longer.

“I think they recruited really well. They got Emi, they got a striker, they got Ross and Douglas Luiz who is a player who is starting to show us he is capable.

“He is a player that I know really well from my time and City and I think the time is benefiting them together. You can see what they are trying to do and they look really strong.”

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Luiz has been key to Villa’s impressive start to the season, starting all their league games so far, and also won his first two caps for Brazil during the last international break.

Arsenal will have a tough game on their hands against a much-improved claret and blue side, but with three wins in a row in all competitions, confidence in the Gunners camp will be high.