Credit: Imago

Jacob Raw

Mon 27 October 2025 9:00, UK

Unai Emery has got Villa Park rocking again this season.

After a tragic start to the season, Emery has turned his Villa side into one of the most feared in the Premier League again.

Aston Villa beat Manchester City 1-0 on Sunday, as Matty Cash’s long-range effort turned out to be the decisive goal in the contest.

Amadou Onana impressed in arguably his best performance of the season for Emery, as Aston Villa managed to keep Erling Haaland from scoring.

The Villans were so impressive on 26 October that even Pep Guardiola has been full of praise despite City’s defeat.

Pep Guardiola hails Aston Villa as a ‘Champions League team’

Emery was under pressure from the Villa board at the start of the season, as results and goals were both hard to come by.

Fast forward a couple of weeks, and Villa are flying, with brilliant defensive performances, and attackers like Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia getting back to their best.

• Villa have now beaten Manchester City in each of their last three Premier League home games
• Manchester City last won at Villa Park in 2021
• Aston Villa are now just one point behind City after game week nine

The City boss was speaking about what he admires about Aston Villa despite the Villans snapping his side’s nine-game unbeaten streak.

Guardiola said, as quoted by John Townley: “They’re a Champions League team. They’re not in it this season, but a top, top team for many years.

“It is a tough, tough place [Villa Park]. Unai always sets up good things. It is a really good team. I admire them – they do very good things.”

There is a possibility for Champions League football to return to B6, but to do that, Emery needs to get the most out of Villa Park’s atmosphere.

• Read more: Ex-PGMOL chief slams Michael Oliver ‘inconsistency’ after major Aston Villa vs Manchester City controversy

Aston Villa should win their next four home games

Every game comes with a different challenge, and after a controversial summer transfer window, Villa were always going to struggle with squad depth this season.

The Europa League has made for congested periods of fixtures for the Villans, but despite this, Emery’s men should be aiming for at least four wins out of their next five home games.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will be without fans, which, really, should only work in Villa’s favour, in a big Europa League game.

In between this busy period of fixtures is an international break, which may benefit Villa. Who knows? By the time Villa come to face Arsenal, it could be one of the most defining games of the Premier League this season.

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