Sport
Unstoppable Villa could mount a late top four challenge
Only Manchester City (18) have taken more points from their last six Premier League matches than Aston Villa (16). Indeed, Unai Emery’s side are on their best run of form of the season, winning five and drawing just one of those aforementioned six matches. The turnaround in their fortunes under the Spaniard has been stark.
When Emery was appointed, Villa were merely concerned with staying in the Premier League. A start of just nine points from 11 fixtures raised the possibility that the club could suffer relegation to the Championship and so Emery’s initial task was clear – guide his new team away from danger near the foot of the table.
Aston Villa are a long way from danger now. In fact, Emery’s team are firmly in the fight to qualify for European football with their recent form pushing them up into the top six. Villa could even make a late challenge to finish in the top four, something very few saw coming even a few weeks ago.
Under Emery, Aston Villa have excellent balance as a team. Ollie Watkins has found the form of his life, scoring 11 goals in his last 12 games, but the England international has been harnessed by Emi Buendia and Jacob Ramsey behind him. Then there’s John McGinn as an energetic influence from midfield.
Tyrone Mings looks back to his best as the defensive bedrock at the back with Alex Moreno an effective outlet down the left wing. Emery inherited a talented, but flawed squad and he has succeeded in maximising its quality. The way Aston Villa are playing right now, they stand a good chance of making their place in the top six stick.
“Our big challenge is to show that we are hungry and focused to finish this campaign with no limits and never being satisfied with what we have done, only looking ahead for new goals,” said Emery. “We want to make you feel proud until the last minute. If it happens, we will get what we all want. Our players deserve this credit. We get, through effort, the possibility to fight for something beautiful.”
Even if Aston Villa miss out on continental qualification this season, there is good reason to believe they will continue to improve over the summer and into next season. Emery is putting in place the building blocks that could sustain Villa for a long time to come. This could be the start of a special period for the club.
Recent reports claim Aston Villa are already plotting transfer moves. Denzel Dumfries has been linked with the Villa Park outfit with Emery keen to strengthen the right wing of his team. The signing of the Netherlands international would be a statement and hint at Aston Villa’s upward trajectory.
Competition near the top end of the Premier League table has never been stiffer. Manchester City and Arsenal are engaged in a compelling title race while Manchester United have improved under Erik Ten Hag. Newcastle United continue to rise since their Saudi Arabian takeover with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur sure to compete again before too long.
Brighton and Brentford have also built competitive squads and are in contention for European qualification themselves. Aston Villa have a difficult run-in ahead of them with fixtures against Brentford, Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool and Brighton to come, but this presents an opportunity to harm the rivals around them in the table.
Not so long ago, Emery was a figure of derision in the Premier League. His time at Arsenal didn’t go to plan, but he is now proving his critics wrong by making such an immediate impact at Aston Villa. Emery is a European specialist and continental qualification would be a symbol of what he has achieved in a very short space of time.
