4 goals in 6 games; Player Gerrard sold in top form since Aston Villa exit

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Anwar El Ghazi may have felt as if he had a point to prove when joining PSV Eindhoven towards the end of the summer transfer window.  

Especially after being frozen out of the first-team picture by Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard. To the extent that he was farmed out on loan to Everton in January before being sold for a cut-price fee of just £2.5 million. 

“I didn’t want to leave. I really wanted to stick with Villa,” El Ghazi explains to The Athletic. “But I had one year left (on my contract), a manager who really didn’t want me there and had I stayed there… well, it was just so difficult.” 

That impressive start to life back home in Holland, then, will taste that little bit sweeter for a player making up for lost time in his new home. In his last six games, El Ghazi has scored four goals and provided a further assist. In fact, the winger is in his best run of form since being nominated for the Premier League’s Player of the Month award following an exceptional festive period nearly two years ago. 

Anwar El Ghazi thriving at PSV Eindhoven after Aston Villa exit

El Ghazi scored twice in PSV’s 6-1 thrashing of Utrecht. He swept home a gorgeous first-time volley against NEC Nijmegen at the weekend. And, during the impressive 2-1 win away from home at Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday night, the former Ajax youngster showed the vision and the presence of mind to set up Johan Bakayoko for what would prove to be the winner in the Arctic Circle. 

“Yes, I miss Villa, but I’m glad to be here (at PSV) now,” adds El Ghazi, who could still turn out for Morocco at the Qatar World Cup.

“Last season, I should have had more chances. In the first training session under Gerrard, he was trying to explain how he likes to play. A lot of thoughts were already in my head. I knew I had to get ready to not be wanted.

“I was trying to adapt to the way that he plays. And, of course I can do it, but naturally, I am a winger. I like to stay wide, put crosses in, get into one-v-one situations and then maybe come inside. But he wanted you to start inside.”

The irony, of course, is that none of the forwards Gerrard put his faith in instead – Danny Ings, Ollie Watkins, Philippe Coutinho, Emi Buendia, Leon Bailey – have scored as many goals all season as El Ghazi has over the last three weeks alone.