At the start of the 2023-24 Premier League season, Aston Villa were the bookies’ ninth favourites to win the title.
Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion were all above the Villains in the pre-season odds.
What a start to 2023/24! ⚡Every @LeonBailey goal and assist in the @PremierLeague so far this season! 😍 pic.twitter.com/VuZ17ojoCg— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 11, 2023
What a start to 2023/24! ⚡Every @LeonBailey goal and assist in the @PremierLeague so far this season! 😍 pic.twitter.com/VuZ17ojoCg
Fast-forward to today – Unai Emery’s side find themselves third in the table after 16 games, two points shy of leaders Liverpool, after defeating Man City and Arsenal in the space of four days.
Aston Villa dominated the reigning champions at Villa Park, racking up 22 attempts while limiting Pep Guardiola’s men to just two shots.
Following a 1-0 victory over Man City, Villa defeated Arsenal by the same scoreline, with John McGinn scoring the only goal of the game in the seventh minute.
Remarkably, those victories mean that Aston Villa have won each of their last 15 Premier League home games, setting a club record for consecutive home wins in the league.
Across eight home league victories this season, Emery’s men have scored a whopping 25 goals (3.1 goals per game) while conceding just five, keeping clean sheets against Man City, Arsenal and Everton.
Thanks largely to their incredible form at Villa Park, only Man City and Arsenal have picked up more Premier League points in 2023 than Aston Villa.
It is no exaggeration to say that Emery has completely transformed the club’s fortunes since replacing Steven Gerrard in October 2022.
After winning just two of their opening 11 Premier League games last season, Villa found themselves 16th in the table, leaving the Spaniard with plenty of work to do.
However, Emery wasted no time in implementing a clear style of play, getting the best out of his players while adding new signings such as Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been immense between the sticks, while John McGinn, Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara keep things ticking over in midfield.
Ollie Watkins has also taken his game to another level under Emery, with the England striker bagging 13 goals and eight assists in 23 appearances this season.
As we approach the halfway point in the Premier League season, Villa find themselves two points shy of leaders Liverpool, two points clear of fourth-place Man City and five points inside the top four.
If they carry on the way they’re going, Aston Villa will only strengthen their chances of winning a first top-flight title since 1980-81.