Villa’s Remarkable Run Continues Despite Injuries

Aston Villa showcased their dominance during the first hour of the match at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night, but were unable to capitalize on Pedro’s first-half goal. A pivotal triple substitution by manager Unai Emery at the hour mark—introducing Amadou Onana, Jadon Sancho, and Ollie Watkins—completely shifted the momentum in favor of Villa.

Watkins secured a brace in the second half, resulting in an 11th consecutive competitive victory for the Villans, and their eighth straight win in the Premier League. This triumph reduces their deficit to league leaders Arsenal to just three points. The Villans are set to face Arsenal midweek as they aim to complete a double over the north London side.

Despite their remarkable performance and current standing in the league, having started the season with a five-game winless streak, Emery downplayed suggestions that his team could be considered title contenders. After Saturday’s success at Stamford Bridge, when asked about Villa’s title aspirations, he responded: “Not really. Not really. I have a feeling that we are competing very well, and we are now third in the league with two teams in Manchester City and Arsenal—fantastic teams.

“We have to play 38 matches. We have played 18 and still have 20 to go. Teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United are formidable opponents. We must strive for consistency throughout the entire season.”

When queried if a win against Arsenal next week would change his perspective, Emery acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming challenge, stating: “Now it is ‘wow.’ At the Emirates, they are incredibly strong. This next challenge is the biggest we will face because they are currently the best team. They are excelling in both the Premier League and Champions League, and I aim to set our demands high.”

Aston Villa remains unbeaten in their last two visits to Arsenal, following a 2-0 victory at the Emirates in 2024 and a 2-2 draw earlier this year. Watkins, who played a vital role in both matches, praised Emery’s tactical acumen after the win against Chelsea.

Watkins, initially on the bench in favor of Donyell Malen, emerged as the hero for Villa, scoring his fourth and fifth league goals of the season. He expressed his admiration for Emery, calling him a “tactical genius” following the 2-1 victory. “Unai Emery is a tactical genius, and I want to say that,” Watkins remarked. “He adapted our system because Chelsea was executing a man-to-man strategy, but they had an extra center-back when we played long. When I came on in the second half, he repositioned Jadon Sancho and Morgan Rogers on the wings and moved Youri Tielemans into the No. 10 role. This adjustment provided us with an extra player in that area. He’s a tactical genius!”

However, Villa’s 2-1 victory did come at a cost, as key players Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara received yellow cards on either side of half-time, resulting in suspensions for the upcoming match against Arsenal. This could lead to the inclusion of Andres Garcia and Lamare Bogarde in the lineup at right-back and central midfield, respectively, as Villa aims to secure 12 consecutive wins for the first time in their history.

The ongoing run of 11 victories places the 2025 Villa team alongside the record set in 1897 and 1914.