As we approach Christmas, the Premier League season is almost at its halfway point. The dust now seems to have settled on the table with every team having played sixteen games. Could this be the year for Aston Villa to win the title?
The season has already provided us with lots of surprises. From Chelsea sitting in the bottom half of the table again, to Everton being handed a whopping ten-point deduction.
However, the biggest surprise of the season would have to be the performances of a scintillating Aston Villa team. Villa currently sits in third place and just two points behind leaders Liverpool.
After Saturday saw Unai Emery’s side beat his former club Arsenal 1-0, people are now beginning to question… Can they win the title?
Embed from Getty ImagesAston Villa’s Recent Form
Aston Villa’s win at Arsenal came just three days after they dominated the current champions Manchester City at Villa Park. The 1-0 win could have been much more and did not reflect the fantastic performance of the home side.
They managed to reduce the recently crowned treble winners to just two shots all game. The first time that has happened to a Pep Guardiola side since 2008.
Embed from Getty ImagesNot only did Aston Villa limit the best side in Europe to just two shots, with none of them coming after the 11th minute, but they fired off twenty-two of their own in what was a very well-deserved win.
It was Ange Postecoglou’s new and improved Spurs side who fell victim to the Villans the week beforehand. In an end-to-end game, Villa showed their steel in the 2-1 victory away from home.
These results against the most in-form teams in the league are what makes Villa such a threat to what has been almost exclusively Manchester City’s title in recent years. It proves they are just as good as the prems’ big boys- if not better.
Just How Good has villa been?
Since Unai Emery’s appointment just over a year ago, their improvement has been nothing short of astonishing. Last season the Spaniard guided them to an impressive 7th placed finish, which handed them European football for the first time since 2010.
The Claret and Blues have shown no sign of slowing down this campaign. They have won as many games as anyone else in the league this season (11), which puts them in this incredible position as potential title challengers.
Embed from Getty ImagesOne of the main reasons for this remarkable start has been Villa’s superb home form. They have won all eight of their matches at Villa Park this season. This means they are currently on a club record 15 home wins in a row in the Premier League.
Aston Villa have been scoring for fun at home, netting twenty-five in eight matches. They have already put six past Brighton and four past Everton, with no other team scoring more goals at home this season.
The Villans have turned Villa Park into a fortress this year. If they keep their home form up, there is no reason why they cannot go all the way with this very talented group of players.
Embed from Getty ImagesKey players
Aston Villa’s talisman Ollie Watkins has been in wonderful form and finds himself with fourteen goal contributions already this season, establishing himself as one of the best number 9s in the league.
Meanwhile, captain John McGinn has been driving his side through key games, and even scored the winner against Arsenal on Saturday.
Embed from Getty ImagesWith their current crop of players, Aston Villa seem to be in the best place they have been in for a long, long time. They seem to have excellently reinvested the £100m they received for Jack Grealish last year.
Much of the team looks like they are in the form of their lives, and they look comfortable all over the pitch. Notable performers include the electric Leon Bailey on the right wing, and the composed Pau Torres, who has been spraying the ball about from the centre-half.
Aston Villa’s solid midfield has been another crucial factor in their recent form. Douglas Luiz has been at the heart of this, alongside Boubacar Kamara and the ever-battling John McGinn.
Every passing game Kamara’s free transfer to Villa Park last year looks like more and more of a steal. Him and Luiz have been bossing the middle of the park week in and week out.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, the whole squad has had a big part to play, not just the star players. There seems to be a real togetherness amongst the players and the manager. This may remind people of a certain Leicester City team eight seasons ago.
Whilst this might not be as miraculous a story as Leicester’s, Villa are the clear underdogs in this year’s title race. So far, the players look like they are relishing it.
Is the title there for the taking?
One thing which will give Villa fans hope for this season is the significant weaknesses that their title rivals seem to have.
Manchester City find themselves in a real slump with just one win in their last five league games. This is unheard of for the champions, and they do not look like the formidable force they were last season.
Although Erling Haaland is the league’s top scorer, he is still not as prolific as he was last season. Across the pitch, City look like a much weaker team, especially when Rodri is not playing.
Despite their current vulnerability, Kevin De Bruyne is back fit soon. We also all know how City have the potential to go on a flawless run when the new year starts. Villa fans will have to cross their fingers that City’s below-par form can continue.
Embed from Getty ImagesOther potential title challengers, Newcastle and Spurs, both find themselves with massive injury blows. They are missing several key players, including Nick Pope, Dan Burn, James Maddison and Micky Van De Ven.
A busload of players being out with long-term injuries for these sides has led to a significant drop in form. They now seem to have fallen behind in the title race, which boosts Villa’s chances ever higher.
Embed from Getty ImagesArsenal and Liverpool have looked like the other two strongest sides in the league this season. However, the good news for Villa fans will be that Liverpool will be without their star player Mohammed Salah from January-February. The prolific winger will be off to represent Egypt at the African Cup of Nations.
Salah has been as brilliant as ever this season, and Liverpool do rely on him when the rest of the team is struggling. He will inevitably be a massive miss for them.
Embed from Getty ImagesArsenal on the other hand are without many significant injuries, and looks like they will be taking it down to the wire again this season. Villa fans will be hoping they can have a similar drop in form as they did at the end of last season. They will remember well how the Gunners threw the title to Manchester City last time out, despite leading for so long.
so, can they do it?
The short answer would be… Yes, of course!
Their excellent form in the first half of the season has shown Aston Villa are more than good enough to pick up enough points to win the title. They have shown they are ready to compete with the best after just beating Spurs, Arsenal and Man City all in the space of 2 weeks.
Aston Villa’s impeccable home form will be vital if they are to win the title. Teams will be terrified to visit Villa Park. You would think as long as they do not collapse away from home, there is no reason why they cannot go all the way.
Embed from Getty ImagesAston Villa is also not overly reliant on one player and has a very strong squad. Players such as Diaby, Ramsey, and Tielemans all more than good enough to come in if need be.
Whereas Arsenal would be more likely to suffer a real drop in form if they were to suffer an injury to William Saliba or Bukayo Saka. This would be the same for Liverpool if they were to lose Salah or Van Dijk. It was Saliba’s injury which began Arsenal’s downfall in last season’s title race.
Aston Villa would certainly need a bit of luck along the way, and their fans will be praying for City’s poor form to continue. However, this season could be Villa’s best possible chance, with the other challengers not looking overly convincing.
Unai Emery is a brilliant manager with a history of winning. Villa fans will be hoping he can repeat his success with the Claret and Blues this year.
So hold on to your seats! We well and truly could be in for another memorable underdog story from a team in the midlands this season…
