Villa’s Stunning Turnaround
Could 2026 be the year Aston Villa finally break their trophy drought? Under Unai Emery, Villa have roared back into contention, stringing together nine consecutive wins in all competitions, just two shy of the club’s record 11-match winning streak set in 1897. This resurgence has propelled the Midlands side into the Premier League title race, raising the question: will Villa be kings themselves, or kingmakers influencing the outcomes at the top?
Their meteoric rise comes after a turbulent start to the season, during which Villa failed to win any of their opening five league matches and went longer than any other side in English football without scoring. The turnaround has been extraordinary, with Emery’s squad now sitting third in both the Premier League and Europa League, putting them on the cusp of potentially historic achievements.
A Pivotal Run of Fixtures
Villa face a crucial sequence of matches to close out the year: Manchester United at home, then trips to Chelsea and Arsenal. These three fixtures could define the club’s role in the title race. A strong showing could see Villa not only influence the championship outcome but also cement themselves as genuine contenders.
Despite the surge, Emery remains measured. He avoids sensational claims about challenging for the title, focusing instead on player development, performance consistency, and tactical discipline.
“We are not feeling under pressure, we are feeling ambitious and we try to challenge in Europe and in the Premier League,” Emery said after last Sunday’s 3-2 comeback win over West Ham.
“Enjoy each match, try to prepare then rest. The players must feel comfortable doing it. This is the process we are doing. Now it is [the match against] Manchester United.”
From Winless to Winners
The contrast between Villa’s early-season struggles and current form is stark. After six games without a victory, including a Carabao Cup loss to Brentford, Villa’s first league goal came in a 1-1 draw against Sunderland on 21 September. Recognizing the alarming start, the squad held a meeting to assess their performance, reset objectives, and strategize a comeback.
Since that turning point, Villa have won 15 of their last 17 games, including high-profile victories against Manchester City (1-0) and Arsenal (2-1). This resurgence reflects both tactical adjustments and a steadfast core squad that has evolved under Emery’s guidance.
Seven players from Emery’s first match in charge—a 3-1 win against Manchester United in November 2022 when Villa were 14th—remain integral today, including Emi Martinez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Emi Buendia, Ollie Watkins, John McGinn, and Boubacar Kamara, with Tyrone Mings and Lucas Digne also contributing.
Aiming Higher Under Emery
Emery’s vision for Villa extends beyond mere consistency. Having already guided the club to the brink of Champions League qualification, he believes the team is now capable of greater feats.
“The last year is an example and it’s an experience for us,” Emery explained. “Sometimes we were performing well, achieving our objective, but maybe if we were demanding more, we could have gotten even further. This is my third year, and I am more motivated and ambitious than when I arrived.”
Villa’s main objective remains clear: victory against Manchester United marks the immediate priority, while long-term goals include challenging for major trophies domestically and in Europe.
Breaking a Long Drought
The club’s last top-level silverware came with the 1996 League Cup triumph over Leeds United, a period when iconic pop culture moments, such as The Prodigy’s Firestarter and Wallace and Gromit’s A Close Shave, captured headlines. Since then, Villa have endured FA Cup and League Cup final defeats, while Emery himself has come tantalizingly close with Europa League and Champions League runs in recent seasons.
Captain John McGinn highlights the team’s motivation:
“Every time we go into a big game now, we have that determination to prove this team we’ve built is worth more than a quarter-final or a semi-final. Until that day comes, questions will always be asked. But when it does, it will feel twice as good.”
This blend of experience, resilience, and ambition positions Aston Villa as one of the Premier League’s most exciting teams this season. Whether they emerge as title contenders or influential kingmakers remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: Villa are a team on the rise.
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