Facing Arsenal on Tuesday
Unai Emery has truly amazed everyone at Aston Villa. Under his guidance since arriving in 2022, the Midlands club has experienced its most successful period in the 21st century. Back in 2019, when they were in the Championship, few could have imagined that just six years later, they would not only be competing in a Champions League quarter-final but also defeating top teams like Bayern Munich on Europe’s grand stage.
Many fans were left disheartened by the club’s summer transfer dealings, as they struggled to adequately replace Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, both of whom were on loan last season. Aston Villa spent the least of any Premier League team this summer, with €30.5 million spent; even Championship clubs like Ipswich (€59.3 million) and Southampton (€56 million) outspent them. The only significant signing was forward Evann Guessand, who came from Nice for €30 million but has yet to make a major impact in the Premier League.
The season began slowly for Villa, as they failed to secure a win in any of their first five matches. However, as we approach the midway point of the season, Emery has once again energized the squad, and they currently sit proudly in third place. With a seven-point lead over fourth-placed Liverpool, they are set to face league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates this Tuesday. A victory would see them level on points with the Gunners. Having narrowly beaten Arsenal at Villa Park earlier this month with a last-minute goal, can they achieve back-to-back wins against them?
Aston Villa’s Champions League-qualifying squad dismantled?
Aston Villa’s impressive performance in the 2023/24 Premier League season has been nothing short of miraculous, challenging the norms of the modern English top-flight. Emery has overseen a remarkable transformation that saw Villa rise to break into the top four and secure Champions League qualification. When he took over from Steven Gerrard after just 11 matches in the 2022/23 season, the club was languishing in 17th place.
Many younger Villa fans, who may not remember the club’s glory days of the 1980s, regard this past season as their favorite. There was a genuine connection between the supporters and the team. If someone had foretold that just a year and a half after their top-four finish, key players like Douglas Luiz, Moussa Diaby, Diego Carlos, Jhon Durán, and Leon Bailey would no longer be with the club, there would have been considerable shock. Nevertheless, despite a disappointing summer and the departure of several stars, Emery has managed to keep Villa competitive at the highest level. He has dealt with player losses, aging talent, and still produced results.
How Emery turned Villa’s season around
As shown in the graphic below, only Manchester City (80) and Arsenal (80) have garnered more Premier League points than Aston Villa (76) in the 2025 calendar year, surpassing even the reigning champions Liverpool (71). Emery has reintegrated players who were previously injured or out of favor, transforming them into one of the league’s most competitive teams. Argentinian midfielder Emiliano Buendía, who missed 69 matches due to an ACL injury, has returned to form, finding his place in Emery’s starting lineup.
Following a rocky start to the season, star player Morgan Rogers is once again a standout, highlighted by his brilliant brace in a recent 2-1 victory over Manchester United. Donyell Malen is starting to adapt to Premier League challenges, while experienced players like Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Martínez, and Lucas Digne are providing valuable stability. Given the lack of summer investment, Emery’s ability to keep Villa at the forefront of the Premier League is a remarkable achievement.
