Europa League quarter-finals booked. Fourth place secured. What a week for Aston Villa. Here are the five talking points every Villa fan needs to be discussing right now.
John McGinn’s free-kick routine goal and Ollie Watkins’ clinical second-half finish give Aston Villa a vital 2-0 win over West Ham and with it, a firm grip on fourth place in the Premier League.
A slick free-kick routine, a composed McGinn finish, and a VAR intervention. Villa’s first half against West Ham had plenty to talk about. Here’s the half-time verdict.
Matty Cash, Pau Torres and Jadon Sancho all come into the Aston Villa starting XI as Emery rings the changes for Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash with West Ham.
Every single one of Morgan Rogers’ eight Premier League goals this season has either put Villa ahead or drawn them level. On Sunday against West Ham, that impact could be the difference again.
Three straight Premier League defeats. A top-five place under serious threat. Sunday’s clash with West Ham isn’t just three points: for Villa, it could be a season-defining afternoon.
A French international striker. A sought-after Serie A defender. Aston Villa’s summer transfer window is already taking shape and every move tells the same story: this club is building for the very top.
He saved the free-kick. He launched the pass. He sprinted to the halfway line to celebrate. Emiliano Martinez isn’t just a goalkeeper: he’s a force of nature. And Villa love every second of it.
Europa League glory isn’t just about silverware for Aston Villa: it’s a financial lifeline. Without Champions League football next season, the summer could get very painful very quickly.
Thirty years. That’s how long Aston Villa have waited for silverware. With a Europa League quarter-final secured and Bologna up next, the wait might finally be over.
From relegation battle to European quarter-finalists three years running. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are rewriting the club’s history one game at a time.
John McGinn silenced the doubters and backed up his own words on Thursday night. Villa are through to the last eight and their captain led the way.