When Aston Villa appointed Unai Emery as their manager back in October 2022, they were a club engulfed by doom and gloom.
A dreadful, disastrous stint for Steven Gerrard in the dugout had supporters, board members and players all fearing relegation. One of England’s grandest and oldest clubs were shrinking further and further behind the elite, who were only gaining in strength.
Emery himself arrived with a somewhat chequered reputation. He had exceeded expectations at Sevilla and Villarreal while doing the bare minimum by winning Ligue 1 crowns at Paris Saint-Germain, but also toiled at Arsenal, where the great shadow of Arsene Wenger ultimately proved too tough to escape from.
Chelsea, meanwhile, had won the Champions League less than 18 months previously.
Having been sold by Roman Abramovich’s to Todd Boehly and his Clearlake Capital group, they had also embarked on a summer of unprecedented spending, splashing the cash on the likes of Raheem Sterling, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly as they sought to build a dynasty in west London.
Fast-forward to now, however, and Villa are now surging beyond their rivals. At quite a staggering rate, too.
Saturday night’s result in west London was seismic and sensational. It was yet another evening where Villa showcased their title credentials, coming mere days after a professional – and hard-fought – 2-1 victory over Manchester United.
Ollie Watkins was the star of the show as Aston Villa rallied to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
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What Chelsea haven’t quite grasped under Boehly is recruitment. They are have many good players, but too few great ones. They have spent money but moved sideways. They have gone for many big names, rather than those needed to turn themselves into a genuine force to be reckoned with.
Villa have never broken the bank for anyone. Instead, they have gone with a measured and meticulous approach. Emery has been backed to the hilt, his every call trusted.
Nobody quite typifies their fighting spirit and resilience more than Ollie Watkins.
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Yes, the England international lacks the blistering speed of previous years.
Yes, there is a sense that Villa will need a No 9 next summer to continue to scale such dizzying heights.
But Watkins, who was signed for the modest fee of £28million back in the summer transfer window of 2020, continues to contribute in breathtaking style.
Benched for the contest at Stamford Bridge, he could easily have been frustrated. He was off the pace against United last time out, with some home fans venting their fury at his lack of energy.
But this was an explosive cameo that will silence his critics. His brilliant brace, which came following his introduction for Emi Buendia, has Villa dreaming of the big time.
This wasn’t just about Watkins, however. Others played sizeable parts as well.
Unai Emery has Aston Villa fans dreaming of the Premier League title
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Victor Lindelof was discarded by United back in the summer after falling down Ruben Amorim’s pecking order.
Ever since an injury to Pau Torres, however, the Sweden international has flourished. Lindelof is a composed presence at the back, a player comfortable both on and off the ball, and he’s rebuilt himself at Villa Park ever since leaving the darkenss of Old Trafford behind.
The same can’t quite be said for Jadon Sancho, of course. He has, for the most part, been a mere squad player since his own departure from the Red Devils.
Questions over his true quality remain. Yet he, too, made a difference off the bench with the 25-year-old’s trickery and directness causing Chelsea problems aplenty.
Ian Maatsen, a player previously discarded by Chelsea, continues to establish himself. Youri Tielemans, who wasn’t wanted by any traditional big six club when he left Leicester in 2023, remains a crucial cog in Emery’s machine. Boubacar Kamara, heard of by few when he arrived in 2022, has become his manager’s midfield general.
Villa are now dreaming of the title. Should they beat Arsenal next time out, the impossible dream will become even more possible. As for Chelsea, this result goes to show that money can’t buy everything.
