Aston Villa’s resurgence under Unai Emery has fans at Villa Park dreaming of a spot in Europe.
The Villans reached the play-off stages of Europa League qualifying in 2009/10 and 2010/11, where they were beaten by Austrian side Rapid Wien on both occasions.
A brilliant unbeaten run has taken Villa up to sixth and with other clubs around them floundering, there’s a chance they could secure their best finish since coming sixth in three consecutive seasons from 2007/08 to 2009/10.
They do have a tough run-in, however, beginning with a trip to Old Trafford. There, they will hope to edge closer to a club record from their time in the Premier League.
Fears of relegation are what led to Steven Gerrard’s sacking as Villa boss back in October. Emery has since helped the squad realise its potential after an initial bedding in period.
After losing three Premier League games on the trot in February to Leicester, Manchester City and Arsenal, the Villans have put together an unbeaten run of ten games in England’s top flight. In that time they’ve faced a number of bottom half strugglers such as Everton, Crystal Palace, West Ham, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Leicester and Nottingham Forest.
They’ve faced higher quality opposition in their last three games, thumping Champions League chasers Newcastle 3-0 before drawing at Brentford.
2022/23 Premier League unbeaten run
|
Date |
Match |
|---|---|
|
25/02/2023 |
Everton 0-2 Aston Villa |
|
04/03/2023 |
Aston Villa 1-0 Crystal Palace |
|
12/03/2023 |
West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa |
|
18/03/2023 |
Aston Villa 3-0 Bournemouth |
|
01/04/2023 |
Chelsea 0-2 Aston Villa |
|
04/04/2023 |
Leicester 1-2 Aston Villa |
|
08/04/2023 |
Aston Villa 2-0 Nottingham Forest |
|
15/04/2023 |
Aston Villa 3-0 Newcastle |
|
22/04/2023 |
Brentford 1-1 Aston Villa |
|
25/04/2023 |
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham |
The slender victory over Fulham took Villa’s unbeaten streak to ten games and there is a chance for Emery’s side to set a new club record before the season is done.
The Villa team of 1998 went 14 matches unbeaten across the 1997/98 and 1998/99 season, so should they come their final five games without losing, they’ll set a new club record for Premier League games unbeaten.
Current Premier League table, top scorers & upcoming fixtures
1998 Premier League unbeaten run
Villa were regulars in the UEFA Cup during the 1990s with stars like Gareth Southgate, Ugo Ehiogu, Dwight Yorke and Stan Collymore.
Their best Premier League finish of second came in 1992/93 but they dropped to tenth and 18th the…
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