Aston Villa have equalled a historic club record by securing their 11th consecutive victory in all competitions, a remarkable feat achieved with a comeback win away at Chelsea on Saturday. This sets the stage for a seismic Premier League clash on Tuesday evening, as third-placed Villa travel to face the league leaders, Arsenal.
Emery's Realistic Dreams and Title Race Ambitions
Manager Unai Emery, while consistently tempering expectations, acknowledged the soaring ambitions surrounding his squad. "Dreams are free," Emery stated, reflecting on the possibility of Villa sustaining a title challenge. He pointed to the need for January reinforcements to maintain their pace, while also drawing a crucial lesson from the 2023-24 campaign.
Villa currently have 39 points from 18 matches, an identical tally to the same stage last season when they ultimately finished fourth. Emery emphasised the importance of managing a demanding schedule, especially with European commitments, and learning from past seasons where injury crises impacted their run-in.
The Ultimate Test Against a Formidable Arsenal
Tuesday's match at the Emirates Stadium represents the pinnacle of Villa's season so far, according to their manager. Emery labelled his former club as favourites for the title, praising their squad depth and consistent growth under Mikel Arteta. Arsenal will be seeking revenge for their 2-1 defeat at Villa Park earlier this month, a loss sealed by a stoppage-time winner from Emi Buendía.
Villa will be without the suspended duo of Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara for the fixture. This encounter marks their fifth away trip in seven games and a third consecutive visit to London, following triumphs at Chelsea and West Ham United.
Fixture Congestion and Scheduling Concerns
Emery expressed bewilderment at the Premier League schedule, which sees Villa face Arsenal for a second time before they have even played Nottingham Forest once this season. "It is the first time in my career as a coach, 20 years, that we are finishing the first part of the season not playing against 19 teams," he said.
The club has raised the issue with the Premier League's chief football officer, Tony Scholes. Villa's director of football, Damian Vidagany, hinted at a possible bias, suggesting in a social media post that fans should "take a look which clubs are playing home both last and next match."
Despite the controversy and the formidable challenge ahead, Aston Villa's record-equalling form ensures they travel to North London not just as hopeful underdogs, but as a genuine force capable of upsetting the title race's established order.
