Title Contenders: Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on the Rise
Fans might be wondering how Aston Villa climbed its way to a title-contending spot on the Premier League chart after a catastrophic start to the season. The answer can probably be found in Unai Emery, Villa's manager, who has found a way to redirect the team when all hope seemed lost. Emery has focused on defense and organization, allowing team members like Ollie Watkins to shine on the field. The question remains whether Emery will make Aston Villa a Premier League finalist, but as of now, things look really good for the Lions.
Not even the most delusional fan could have predicted that Aston Villa would be right next to Manchester United and Arsenal on the scoreboard after the team’s first five games. Unai Emery, Aston Villa’s manager since 2022, described the player’s performance as “Lazy” as they struggled to get through the first dates of the season with no goals in their favor. What happened next was nothing short of miraculous; 11 running-match victories up until an upset against Arsenal, none other than the leader of the scoreboard. Yesterday’s game against Nottingham Forest seems to have reinstated the Lions’ good streak. Their 3-1 victory over the Reds briefly gained them the spot right below Arsenal, but Manchester United’s tie against Chelsea this evening put them back in the third spot.
Unai Emery was responsible for Aston Villa’s resurgence as a Premier League giant during his first season with the team in 2022. Just a year after assuming the managerial position, Emery’s Villa qualified for the UEFA Conference League after a decade of not playing in the European stage. Despite things currently seeming to be in their favor, Emery is cautious about discussing any chance of a title win, designating Arsenal as the most probable winner of the Premier League. As it stands, the manager’s predictions have a good chance of becoming true; still, whether it will be Aston Villa or some other team facing Arsenal in the finals is yet to be seen.
The Lions will be facing Crystal Palace next Wednesday at Selhurst Park Stadium. The odds seem to be in Villa's favor, with Crystal Palace sitting at 14th place on the table; there is a good chance this will be a comfortable win. Unai Emery’s efforts and steady resilience have been instrumental in the team's success. Emery’s plan for Aston Villa is yet to unfold in front of the fans.
