Is Emery's Aston Villa a real candidate to win the Premier League?

Aston Villa's commitment to Unai Emery is the sign of a firm project. A 'love' story that he started with money involved, specifically about seven million euros to break his contract with Villarreal, to give him the keys to the club and the necessary resources to resurrect a team that had forgotten to compete. From relegation places to seventh, with a ticket to the Conference League included, in the 2022/23 season. Now, provisional leaders, they could say goodbye to 2023 at the top of the table.

The Birmingham team once again has an identity, something essential to engage a fan who is 100% with the team and who has taken the license to dream of winning the most competitive league on the planet. But are there really reasons to believe it? First in the table after beating Sheffield United, Emery's team has 41 points in the Premier League with one more game than their main pursuers. Arteta's Arsenal, Klopp's Liverpool and Guardiola's Manchester City.

Beyond the results, achieved in 18 of the 38 games in the British competition, Emery's success at Villa Park can be understood for several reasons. The first of them, the support of the club. An effort has been made with every request that Hondarribia has had. An involvement that is more than necessary to provide the team with players who grow with their way of understanding football. After granting several 'wishes' last January, the sports management decided to strengthen the team with everything in the summer as well. In total, they spent almost 100 million euros to bring in Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres, Nicolò Zaniolo, Youri Tielemans and Clément Lenglet.

Aston Villa have played nine home games and won all nine. Impossible to do better. They have defeated Everton, Crystal Palace, Brighton, West Ham, Luton Town, Fulham, Manchester City, Arsenal and Sheffield United. Yes, on this list is the current champion and the runner-up from last year. Almost nothing. The balance of goals scored and conceded also reflects that visiting Aston Villa at their home stadium is synonymous with having a really bad time. They are the highest scorers in the tournament at home, and the second in the fewest goals conceded, behind Newcastle.

Clear and effective style

Since his arrival, Emery implemented concepts that he applied at Villarreal. During the season he has mainly drawn the 4-4-2, alternating the system depending on the rival and the different scenarios that occur during the games. matches. Aston Villa puts pressure very high on the rival team's release of the ball, forcing them to play long or seeking to force an error that allows a steal in very compromised areas. After losing, Emery's men are going to bite with everything. One of the keys to the defense is how well the four players who make up the defense manage time, who 'dance' at the same rhythm. For this reason, Aston Villa is the team that manages to cause its rival to be offside the most times.