Kings or Kingmakers? Villa Facing Crucial Run

Is this the year for Aston Villa's time?

Nine consecutive victories in every tournament - closing in on the team's historic mark of 11 achieved back in 1897 - have launched Unai Emery's side into title contention.

This impressive streak has come following Villa did not win any of their first five Premier League matches and were the last team in the league to score.

They host Manchester United on Sunday before visiting Chelsea and playing leaders Arsenal to conclude 2026 - three games which could define their potential to be spoilers or champions.

Villa have not won a major trophy since securing the League Cup in 1996 but, sitting third in both the Premier League and Europa League, their drought could come to an end in dramatic fashion.

Avoiding the Spotlight

Unai Emery will not bow to any public calls to announce Villa are challenging for the title.

However, the numbers paint a clear picture, as their single top-flight defeat since August came against Liverpool in October, and after that Villa have secured six consecutive top-flight games.

Last Sunday's come-from-behind 3-2 victory over West Ham exemplified the character of his side and the winning feeling they now carry.

"We are not feeling under pressure, we are filled with ambition and we try to compete in Europe and in the Premier League," Emery said. "Enjoy each match, try to prepare then rest. The players must feel comfortable doing it."

Emery has been careful to steer clear of any unnecessary focus on his Villa players. After all, they are garnering sufficient notice through their excellent results.

Turning the Season Around

That present run is in stark contrast to a start of the season in which they were winless after their six opening games, which included a Carabao Cup loss to Brentford, and did not even score in the league until a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on 21 September.

The squad gathered for talks to review their worrying beginning and talk about how to regain their form. There was a understanding there had been a carry-over from missing out on the Champions League.

Villa ended the season in sixth last season and were denied the top five on goal difference after a controversial defeat by Manchester United on the final day.

From that point at the Stadium of Light they have triumphed in 15 out of 17 fixtures, including beating Manchester City 1-0 and this month's thrilling 2-1 victory over Arsenal.

There has also been progression, not an overhaul under Emery, as seven Villa players who played in the head coach's first match - a 3-1 victory against United in November 2022 - are still crucial now.

Building on Experience

"The last year is an model and it's an lesson for us. Sometimes we were playing excellently, we were achieving our objective, but maybe if we were aiming higher, maybe even we could achieve even greater things," Emery stated.

He added, "This is the third season I am here, I am highly motivated, but [also] more demanding than when I started. My objective has many aspects to improve."

A Trophy Drought

The most recent occasion Villa won a major trophy - beating Leeds 3-0 in the League Cup - feels like a lifetime ago.

It has been a lengthy period since, with Villa being defeated in two FA Cup finals and two League Cup finals since then.

Emery, a Europa League winner with Sevilla and Villarreal, made it clear on his appointment that the key aim was to win a trophy. Last season's FA Cup semi-final defeat remains painful.

A Europa Conference League semi-final defeat 18 months ago and a thrilling Champions League quarter-final exit last April demonstrate their progress.

"Every time we go into a major match now, we have that resolve in the back of our heads to demonstrate this team we have developed over the past five or six years is capable of more than a quarter-final, worth more than a semi-final," captain John McGinn told reporters. "The determination, I can see it this year."

The critical period begins now, with Villa poised to discover if they are fated to become kings or merely kingmakers in the title race.