Aston Villa are closing in on qualification for UEFA Champions League football next season as they currently lie in fourth position in the Premier League table.
Unai Emery’s men have had a fine 2023-24 campaign by reaching the semi-final of the UEFA Europa Conference League and they have been in the league’s top five for the majority of the campaign.
Afrosport takes a look at Aston Villa’s performance and their standout player in the English top-flight as they edge closer to making their first appearance in the elite European competition for the first time since 1983.
Overall Review
Aston Villa’s campaign has been excellent and they have managed to be among the league’s ‘big boys’ with their results and their position on the log.
With a game left before the end of their campaign, the Villa Park outfit have a record of 20 wins, eight draws and nine losses after 37 Premier League games.
They are bidding to qualify for UEFA Champions League and they are fourth in the league table, four points above fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur who have an outstanding game.
Unsung Hero
Ollie Watkins
Watkins’ goals came right in time for Unai Emery’s side and his versatility up front created problems for the opposition, making Aston Villa unstoppable with goals.
The England forward is enjoying his best scoring run in his professional career with a tally of 19 goals in 36 matches.
He also made the second-most appearances for the Villa Park outfit this season, after Moussa Diaby who has played in every league match.
Manager
Unai Emery
The former Arsenal coach has transformed Aston Villa and he made the club faithful buzzing with the players firing from all cylinders.
His strategic gameplay and inspirational leadership have spurred Aston Villa to grind out results whenever it mattered.
Emery’s project at Villa Park is not complete which earned him a new contract in April to keep him in Birmingham until at least 2027.
Possible areas of reinforcement
Aston Villa boost of the “Best Goalkeeper in the world” in Emiliano Martinez but the Argentine has scored the most own goals by any goalkeeper in the Premier League this season.
In Martinez’s absence due to injury, Sweden’s Robin Olsen struggled to make a statement, conceding eight goals in the four Premier League matches he played this campaign while Australia’s Joe Gauci who joined from Adelaide in January has not had his chance to impress.
Tactical selection options
Start One – Pau Torres
Bench One – Clement Lenglet
Sell One – Callum Chambers
