Aston Villa are on a roll. Manager Unai Emery has transformed the Birmingham club from perennial relegation candidates into genuine title contenders and recent results have given credence to their credentials. The 52-year-old welcomed last season’s top two to Villa Park in the space of just four days this past week and sent both packing, taking maximum points from the two contests and stretching Villa’s home Premier League winning streak to a club-record of 15 in the process.
Emery and his players are understandably playing down their chances of springing an upset in the title race but the club are now just two points off top spot in third and have put the league on notice. While challengers in and around them cross their fingers and wait with baited breath to see if they stumble, Villa are riding the wave of momentum and have their fans dreaming of a first Premier League crown.
Under Emery’s predecessor, Steven Gerrard, Villa looked aimless, devoid of a gameplan with the squad meandering their way through the campaign as the club lingered around mid-table, even flirting with the prospect of relegation. Just over 12 months on and that bleak state of affairs is firmly in the rear-view mirror. Emery’s arrival has brought with it a return to form that helped the club secure European football at Villa Park for the first time since 2009.
And as already mentioned, Emery has improved on last season’s performance further still with Villa now front and centre in the title picture.
The Birmingham outfit have won 26 of the 41 Premier League games since Emery got the job and it’s not just the volume of victories that’s impressive, it’s the manner of them as well. No manager has got the better of Pep Guardiola tactically quite like the Spaniard managed to on December 6th.
Emery’s side played them off the park, dominating from start to finish, notching up an xG of 2.33 compared with City’s meager 0.86 and registering 22 shots at Ederson’s net compared with just two for Emi Martinez to handle. The narrow margin of victory saved City’s blushes but make no mistake, it was as emphatic a 1-0 victory over a Guardiola side as you’re ever likely to see in the Premier League.
But how did we get here?
How did a team sitting 16th, just one point off the relegation places no more than 14 months ago get one over on arguably the greatest Premier League team ever assembled? Well, simply put, Emery has brought out a different level from these players.
Ollie Watkins has been the most important cog in Villa’s machine in recent seasons and he has continued to be their most reliable source of goals up front but even he is reaching new heights under the Spaniard.
The 27-year-old already has 16 goal contributions from the opening 16 games of this Premier League campaign with eight goals and eight assists.
It keeps him well on track to beat last season’s tally of 21 goal contributions but also demonstrates how he has posed an attacking threat not just with his shooting boots this season, but by creating chances as well.
Elsewhere John McGinn continues to be the workhorse of the midfield, relentless in his press and an ever-present force helping to control the dynamic of the game.
Alongside the Scot is Douglas Luiz who has flourished in his role as the linchpin of their engine room while the likes of Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres have proven their worth at the back for Villa time and time again.
In truth there is a seemingly endless list of names that have reached new heights in their playing careers under Emery in this current run and their brand of football is threatening to upset the so-called big six’s apple cart.
This group of players started the season as 250/1 longshots but now no-one is denying their capacity to be seen lifting the Premier League trophy come May. Least of all the bookies with new online bookmakers pricing Aston Villa at 33/1 to win the league this season. But as is always the case in any title-winning season, there remain a number of roadblocks that could yet trip them up.
Chief among them is their reliance on Watkins.
If the England International can remain fit then there’s unlikely to be any issue, but many would doubt whether Villa could sustain their charge without him. Emery will need to look to the market in January for a backup plan for that eventuality. Then there’s the transfer window itself to contend with.
With Villa performing as well as they have been there is sure to be a number of interested parties in their top players and while the Birmingham club is hardly in need of financial security right now, there aren’t many teams in the world that could afford to turn down bids north of £80 million.
The European factor is something to consider when the fixtures begin to build up as their Conference League journey continues and perhaps more significantly is their underwhelming away form in the league.
Villa Park might well be a safe haven for now but if they truly aspire to stay in the title race they have to do better on the road.
The Christmas period will be make or break for Villa more so than most and will reveal much about their realistic expectations going forward, but for now who can blame Villa fans for being full of festive cheer.