Will Aston Villa be able to keep up a title challenge?
Might this season be Aston Villa's time?
A nine-match winning streak in every tournament - approaching the team's historic mark of 11 established in 1897 - have catapulted Unai Emery's side into title contention.
This remarkable run has come following Villa were unable to secure a victory in any of their initial five Premier League matches and had the longest run without a goal of.
They welcome Manchester United on Sunday before playing away at Chelsea and taking on leaders Arsenal to conclude 2026 - three games which could determine their role in the title race.
Villa have not lifted significant silverware since securing the League Cup in 1996 but, sitting third in both the Premier League and Europa League, their drought could be broken in dramatic fashion.
Villa maintain the pressure on the leading duo following a brace from Rogers.
The Manager's Measured Stance
Unai Emery will not bow to any outside pressure to announce Villa are challenging for the title.
However, the numbers speak volumes, as their sole league loss since August came against Liverpool in October, and from that point Villa have secured six consecutive top-flight games.
Last Sunday's 3-2 comeback win over West Ham perfectly illustrated the resilience of his side and the positive energy they now have.
"We are not feeling the pressure, we are feeling ambitious and we try to be competitive in Europe and in the Premier League," Emery said. "Enjoy each match, try to prepare then rest. The players must feel comfortable doing it."
Emery has been careful to prevent placing any extra attention on his Villa players. After all, they are garnering sufficient notice through their stunning form.
Turning the Season Around
That excellent form is in sharp opposition to a start of the season in which they were unable to win after their six opening games, which included a Carabao Cup loss to Brentford, and did not even find the net in the Premier League until a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on 21 September.
The squad gathered for talks to evaluate their alarming start and plan how to regain their form. There was a recognition there had been a carry-over from falling short of the Champions League.
Unai Emery has been the boss at Aston Villa since November 2022.
Villa finished sixth last season and were denied the top five on goal difference following a controversial defeat by Manchester United on the final day.
From that point at the Stadium of Light they have triumphed in 15 out of 17 fixtures, including beating Manchester City 1-0 and this month's thrilling 2-1 victory over Arsenal.
There has also been progression, not an overhaul under Emery, as seven Villa players who played in the head coach's first match - a 3-1 victory against United in November 2022 - continue to be important now.
Building on Experience
"The last year is an example and it's an lesson for us. Sometimes we were doing a good job, we were meeting our targets, but maybe if we were getting our demands higher, maybe even we could go further," Emery stated.
He added, "This is the third season I am here, I am really very motivated, but [also] more demanding than when I arrived here. My objective has a lot of things to improve."
Ending the Long Wait
The most recent occasion Villa claimed a significant honour - beating Leeds 3-0 in the League Cup - feels like a lifetime ago.
It has been a long wait since, with Villa losing two FA Cup finals and two League Cup finals over the years.
Emery, a Europa League winner with Sevilla and Villarreal, made it clear on his first day in charge that the key aim was to win a trophy. Last season's FA Cup semi-final defeat is not forgotten.
A Europa Conference League semi-final defeat 18 months ago and a thrilling Champions League quarter-final exit last April show they are getting closer.
"Every time we go into a big game now, we have that drive in the back of our heads to prove this team we have built over the past five or six years is deserving of more than a quarter-final, worth more than a semi-final," captain John McGinn told reporters. "The determination, I can see it this year."
The pivotal stretch begins now, with Villa poised to discover if they are ready to be champions or merely kingmakers in the title race.
