Can high-flying Villa mount a push for Europe?: Aston Villa half-season review

Having transpired from a league campaign that saw the Villans avoid relegation by one point on the final day of the season, Dean Smith’s side have become one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the Premier League.

After finally playing their 19th game of the season, Villa currently occupy eighth place with two games in hand and only five points from the notorious top four. The Lions scrapped passed Southampton in an affair which saw Smith and Ralph Hassenhuttl’s sides go toe to toe with each other.

A lot has changed over in B6 since this time last season, after 19 games played, Villa were sat inside the relegation zone with 18 points to hand and faced a relegation battle which would turn the club upside down. However, a year later the Villan’s now sit on 32 points as well as three points shy of their tally last season.

Five key games:

Aston Villa 7-2 Liverpool

Only their third game of the season and having dusted off Sheffield United and Fulham, Aston Villa pulled off what seemed to be the impossible. Beating the champions, let alone putting seven past them. An intelligent performance from the Villan’s and hat-trick hero Ollie Watkins would see off Jurgen Klopp’s Reds. With only 30% possession against a team that would normally punish you if you let them have the ball, but it wasn’t to be as Villa made a flying start to the campaign.

Leicester City 0-1 Aston Villa

Villa’s encounter at the King Power last season ended in a 4-0 defeat to the Foxes, however, fresh off the bat after beating Liverpool, Villa ran out victors at Leicester, after a smash-and-grab goal from Chelsea loanee Ross Barkley. The 27-year-old sealed all three points after his 91st-minute strike, extending the Villans’ best start to a season for decades.

Arsenal 0-3 Aston Villa

On the back of two defeats at Villa Park to Leeds United and Southampton respectively, Villa faced up to a deflated Arsenal. Bouncing back was vital for the atmosphere in the changing room. Another spectacular performance from Ollie Watkins, who scored a brace, and a Bukayo Saka own goal saw off the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium. As well as another man of the match performance from Jack Grealish, Villa were back to winning ways and looked like one of the league’s most entertaining sides to watch.

West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa

However, as November came to an end, Smith’s side had lost four games in the league, but it would be the game against David Moyes’ West Ham that stood out. After Watkins had the ball in the back of the net to equalise, VAR had other thoughts and outrageously ruled out the forward’s goal. Goals from Angelo Ogbonna and Jarrod Bowen ultimately sunk the Villans in London. Despite Grealish’s best efforts bringing the scoreline level briefly, the Villans ended November with one win in four.

Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa

Now skipping forward to Villa’s 19^th game of the season and on the back of a gruelling loss to Burnley, Villa now faced a tricky Southampton. St.Mary’s isn’t one of the more enjoyable awayday matches for the West Midlands side, having not won there since 2013. The Saints will have felt extremely hard done by after VAR shutdown a penalty call and ruled out a 93rd-minute equaliser marginally for offside. However, Barkley’s first-half header was just about enough to sink Southampton and push Villa back towards where they belong.

Players of the season so far:

Now as key performers go for the Villan’s, you could say almost every player has been a cut above the rest. However, it’s new signing Emi Martinez who takes the prize of player of the season so far. Having amassed then clean sheets in 19 games, Martinez has been a drastic improvement in between the sticks at Villa Park. A safe pair of hands and for a bargain price, Martinez is the league’s best goalkeeper outside the top four, subject to opinion.

Having shown glimpses of promise last season, Douglas Luiz has been one of Villa’s most consistent performers so far this season and there’s every reason as to why Manchester City may come back sniffing for the 22-year-old in the summer window. A very well-rounded holding midfielder has allowed for the Lions to play their high-pressing style of football and the Brazilian international is the staple of this.

Of course, its time that he’s finally mentioned, captain Jack Grealish has been one of the league’s top performers as well as Villa’s. Despite his off the pitch controversy, this hasn’t subtracted from the fantastic season the England international is having. Grealish has a total of six goals and nine assists with the skipper being the Premier League’s third-highest assister behind Kevin De Bruyne and Harry Kane so far this season.

What’s next for the high-flying Villans?

If only Villa had beaten Burnley, they’d be two points from fourth with two games in hand but let’s not get distracted by that. With the addition of Morgan Sanson from Marseille, a sign of European intent, Villa’s season has all the trademarks of possibly landing in the Europa League. With no worry of relegation, it’s time for Dean Smith to set his sights on the dream that every Villa fan has.

To achieve this feat, Villa must continue to churn out results and beat teams they’re expected to beat. As well as this, it’s vital that Grealish stays fit and injury-free having been the focal point of this Aston Villa side the last three years.

Here are five games that we should look out for if Villa are to achieve their respective goal:

Aston Villa vs Leicester City 21/02/21

Liverpool vs Aston Villa 10/04/21

Aston Villa vs Manchester United 08/05/21

Spurs vs Aston Villa 15/05/21

Aston Villa vs Chelsea 23/05/21

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