After back-to-back 1-0 wins over Manchester City and Arsenal in early December, it seemed Aston Villa could mount an unlikely title challenge. Less than two months later, they face a battle to secure Champions League qualification.
Their season is beginning to follow a familiar pattern of recent Premier League history, where a side makes a valiant attempt at gate-crashing the rather exclusive ‘Big Six’ party only to stumble towards the end. Will Unai Emery’s team be the latest to be turned away at the door?
While few, if any, truly expected the Villains to last the distance with Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool, there was optimism in the second city unseen in over a decade after home victories against the first two in early December.
It wasn’t just the victories but the manner of those victories with their dominance of the champions particularly impressive. It was both a rarity in the Pep Guardiola City era and confirmation of the stunning transformation under Emery.
Those results put Villa in a position to go top of the tree a week later with a win at home to lowly Sheffield United on December 22. A late draw was instead the result, marking the first dropped points at home all season.
Villa had not led the league so deep into a season since 1998/99, and perhaps the increased pressure, as well as the change in expectations from the summer, played a part in a limp display against Chris Wilder’s side. The absence of Pau Torres was undoubtedly also a major factor; he was the glue that held that previously sturdy defence together.
Things have tailed off quite a bit with Villa winning just two of their six league games since: a tight 3-2 at home to 19th-placed Burnley and, in fairness, a 5-0 hammering of the Blades at Bramall Lane.
There has been two losses to Manchester United, the first at Old Trafford after being 2-0 up, and the second last weekend’s damaging late loss that leaves Erik ten Hag’s men just five points behind and with plenty of momentum to boot.
Scott McTominay’s 87th-minute winner made it three losses in a row at Villa Park, quite a contrast from their previously imperious home form that had seen 15 wins on the bounce until the draw with Chris Wilder’s side.
The 3-1 loss to Newcastle was a surprise, as was Chelsea’s victory by the same score-line that dumped Villa out of the FA Cup in the fourth round.
To add to their current woes, Boubacar Kamara sustained a season-ending ACL injury in the loss to United, the third Villa player to suffer the a serious knee injury after Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia. Diego Carlos also picked up a hamstring injury in training.
Villa did look a lot better in that game than in previous weeks, with much more energy and verve in their play. Unfortunately, they found Andre Onana in solid form and Ollie Watkins, Jacob Ramsey and others missing theirs in front of goal.
