Aston Villa’s Title Aspirations: A Resilient Force in the Premier League

LONDON — Aston Villa is rewriting the record books, and the pivotal question looms: Can they secure the Premier League title?

After staging a comeback to win 2-1 against Chelsea on Saturday, the answer from Unai Emery’s squad is undoubtedly “Yes.”

Currently, Villa is on an impressive eight-match winning streak in the Premier League, leaving heavyweight teams like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United trailing. These clubs collectively boast 46 English league titles, but it is Villa that is beginning to draw concern from leaders Arsenal and Manchester City, rather than the traditionally dominant clubs.

At the beginning of the season, Chelsea appeared poised to disrupt the title race after clinching the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States and defeating Champions League champions Paris Saint-Germain. However, as the 2025-26 season nears its midway point, Chelsea finds itself embroiled in a battle with Liverpool and Manchester United for the fourth place and Champions League qualification, while Villa is eyeing a title showdown with Arsenal and Manchester City.

For any remaining skeptics questioning Villa’s title credentials, a victory in their next match would likely dispel doubts entirely. Emery’s side will visit league leaders Arsenal on Tuesday, knowing that a win will level them on points with the Gunners.

Villa has been competitive in their recent encounters at the Emirates, having won and drawn in their last two Premier League visits, and they previously defeated Arsenal at home on December 6. Therefore, Tuesday’s fixture is one that Villa can confidently target for victory.

With their triumph over Chelsea, Villa achieved an 11th consecutive win across all competitions for the first time since 1914. A win against Mikel Arteta’s team would equal the club’s record for the best league run of nine straight victories, previously set between October and December of 1910.

Forward Ollie Watkins, who scored twice after coming on as a second-half substitute, remarked on the current sentiment surrounding Villa. While he refrained from labeling Villa as title challengers, he acknowledged that opposing teams are increasingly wary of their capabilities. “Teams are worried about us, even if we may not play the prettiest football at times,” Watkins told Sky Sports. “There’s a lot of talk about us potentially winning the title, but we are focusing on the next game.”

The manner of their victory at Chelsea has amplified the significance of the upcoming match. Despite a lackluster first half where Chelsea dominated and took a 1-0 lead through João Pedro’s goal from a Reece James corner, Villa displayed resilience to turn the game around in the second half.

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea boasts significant attacking talent and a fast-paced style, but they have struggled to maintain control in matches, often dropping points from winning positions. This season, they have lost 11 points in home games when leading, a trend Maresca attributes to a need for more experienced players.

In contrast, Villa’s roster includes seasoned players such as captain John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Emi Martinez, and Watkins. Their experience proved crucial as Villa rebounded from a challenging first half.

“This is about mentality,” Emery stated post-match. “We have mature players with quality. It was fantastic how we defended when we were struggling in the first half. In the second half, we had momentum and fresh legs, leading to a fantastic impact.”

Emery’s tactical adjustments were instrumental, substituting McGinn, Emiliano Buendía, and Boubacar Kamara for Amadou Onana, Jadon Sancho, and Watkins shortly after the hour mark. The changes yielded immediate results, with Watkins equalizing just four minutes later. Villa then seized control as Chelsea faltered under pressure.

The extra energy from the substitutes and Villa’s greater experience overwhelmed their opponents, culminating in Watkins securing the win with a header from a Tielemans corner in the 84th minute. Villa had opportunities to extend their lead further, celebrated by their supporters chanting, “We’re gonna win the league,” while Chelsea departed to a chorus of boos, their title hopes dimming.

“If you analyze the first hour of the game, you are not talking about experience,” Maresca commented. “But after that, we struggled with that. The changes they made — introducing Watkins, Onana, and Sancho — improved them significantly.”

Maresca’s understatement reflects the reality; Villa capitalized on their experience to secure the victory, a challenge that Chelsea will continue to face unless they reevaluate their recruitment strategies. As Villa pursues their first league title since 1981, Chelsea must contend with their battle for fourth place.