Along with Manchester City, Aston Villa is undoubtedly the team of the moment in the Premier League. With their victory at Chelsea FC, the Villans not only secured their place at the top of the table, but also equaled a club record that is over 100 years old.
Aston Villa had earned 15 of their 36 points after falling behind before their away game at Chelsea FC—a pattern that was set to continue at Stamford Bridge. “We got off to a very bad start. In every away game, we seem to have to accept falling behind at first. But in the second half, we found our rhythm, got into the game better and caused problems for our opponents,” said Ollie Watkins, who had shone as a substitute, looking back on the match.
The striker himself was largely responsible for the third-placed team’s twelfth league win with his brace, which leaves them just one point behind Manchester City (40) and three points behind leaders Arsenal (42). Although this is easier said than done, of course, Watkins hopes “that from now on we can avoid conceding the first goal and then just have a smooth game without conceding.”
Villa equals record from 1897 and 1914
Unai Emery, whom Watkins praised highly on Sky, will also be thinking about how to reduce the number of goals conceded. “When I came on in the second half, he brought on Jadon Sancho on the wing and Morgan Rogers, and I think that gave us a bit more space,” analyzed the double goalscorer. “Then he put Youri Tielemans in the number 10 position, so we had an extra player there. A tactical genius, I’d say,” said Watkins.
After the Birmingham club was in 18th place with three points at the end of matchday 5, no Premier League team has collected more points (36) since then. But that’s not all: with their eleventh (!) competitive win in a row on Saturday, the Villans finally equaled a club record that was set over 100 years ago, in both 1897 and 1914.
The leaders await at the end of the year
The fact that people are now even asking whether the club could actually win its first league title since 1981 underlines its outstanding form – and confirms the Villa fans who sang euphorically: “We’re going to win the league!”
Emery, meanwhile, was much more cautious, saying he would only talk about a possible league position “on matchday 34” – i.e., shortly before the end of the season. “I feel that we are fighting for Europe and not competing with Man City and Arsenal for the league,” explained the 54-year-old. He will not deviate from this approach even after the next game, when Aston Villa visits league leaders Arsenal – and could draw level with them (Tuesday, 9:15 p.m.).