Aston Villa’s Stellar Journey Under Emery
Well, well, well! If it isn’t the Aston Villa fans getting downright giddy again. Under Unai Emery, the Villans are turning into the football equivalent of a fine wine — getting better with age and pleasing to the senses, especially when that sense is “I just saw us win again!”
Let’s take a little stroll down memory lane, shall we? Just two years ago, the club was in the sort of trouble that had fans checking their betting slips and contemplating a one-way ticket to the Second Division. Back on the wild ride of 24 October 2022, the only thing worse than Steven Gerrard’s management was the prospect of playing Premier League football in front of tumbleweed!
Fast forward to today, and it’s not just the shirts that are getting tighter (good luck getting your hands on one after this start), but Aston Villa is off to their best Premier League start in 26 years! You thought your last date was going well? At least Villa isn’t asking for a second chance; they’re asking for an encore!
Now, in classic football fashion, Villa had a bit of a scare against Bologna. Who knew the woodwork had a vested interest in the game? Sam Beukema certainly does after he sent a header crashing against the post! You could see Emery having a bit of a ‘chat’ with his set-piece coach Austin MacPhee — and by ‘chat’, I mean it was all but showing Austin the door over some poorly executed tactics. Luckily, we can all remember that it’s not over until the referee blows the final whistle, or until the pigeons have finished their post-match analysis!
With nine points secured and five matches left against the likes of Club Brugge and Juventus, Aston Villa is practically halfway to the magic number of 15 points. The Opta supercomputer — which sounds suspiciously like the nerdy sibling no one talks about at family BBQs — deems that number essential for a top-eight finish in the knockout stages. Talk about dodging a bullet while also trying to score goals!
Speaking of scoring, Villa didn’t just sit back and twiddle their thumbs in their latest encounter. They unleashed a staggering 16 attempts against Bologna, clearly responding to an electrifying atmosphere that had the home fans buzzing like a kid on their first sugar rush. A cauldron of noise at Villa Park? Sounds like a recipe for a musical number — how about “The Sound of Silent Goals?”
And, oh boy, the entrance was nothing short of spectacular, with fireworks lighting up the night sky and a tifo that made you wonder if you were there for a football match or the opening night of a West End show! Who wouldn’t belt out the Champions League anthem while dreaming of their team brushing aside opponents like they were just a pesky fly in the face of a winning streak?
While Villa is yet to concede in this competition, it’s important to not gloss over Bologna’s plight. A single point from three games has them looking about as threatening as a Sunday league side! Count your blessings, Villa fans; at least you’re not having to wallow in the agony of zero goals scored.
In the midst of all this footballing drama, a touching moment arose when Samuel Iling-Junior, on loan at Bologna, made his entrance on the Villa Park pitch that had once been his stomping ground. The applause that erupted was something that could bring a tear to Crocodile Dundee’s eye — “That’s not applause, mate. This is applause!”
So, here we are! Aston Villa is soaring under Emery’s astute management, like a well-aimed shot that’s arrowed straight into the heart of the opposition. They might not just be contenders this season; with the right results, they could very well be lifting some silverware. And if they play their cards right, who knows? We might see them in the spotlight of the Champions League next season! Stay tuned, because this ride… well, it’s only just getting started!