Aston Villa's John McGinn (second right) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with ... [+]
Judged purely on results Aston Villa’s season has flattered to deceive.
In the opening months of the campaign in particular, the Birmingham giants were either handing out beatings or ending up on the wrong side of them.
The unpredictable nature of the results made the club an enjoyable watch for the neutral, but, for the upwardly ambitious Villains, it was frustrating.
However, since being handed a 0-3 home defeat by Liverpool at the start of September, Villa has gone five Premier League games without a loss. Four of those games have resulted in victories.
Following another win, this time in the UEFA
"If we want to be a contender we have to show every day and when we are playing those matches, we have to show everybody our wishes. I think we did it," Emery told the media after AZ Alkmaar was dispatched 1-4.
"We are respecting them because they played in the semi-final last year against West Ham. They won last year against Lazio, they won last year against Anderlecht and it's because they have experiences in European competitions.
"I am very happy with the players because I think they have to be mature, responsible and demanding themselves, not only when I'm pushing them. They have to try to increase their own individual and collective level.”
The big question is whether the West Midlanders can do just that, reach the next level, the side has shown flashes of brilliance this season but not the consistency required to challenge.
Emery’s record in delivering European soccer is often underplayed with many people focusing on his well-known astonishing record in the Europa League-which he has won a record four times with Sevilla and Villarreal.
But there is no reason why the club can’t challenge for the Champions League places this season.
Stronger Than With Arsenal
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Unai Emery of Aston Villa talks to the press during a press ... [+]
Doubts about Emery’s capabilities as a coach are raised because of his time as Arsenal manager.
Back in 2018, he was the man given the task of replacing legendary boss Arsene Wenger. As might well be predicted he delivered a Europa League final-where the club lost comprehensively to Chelsea-and finished fifth narrowly missing out on the Champions League.
Just a few months into the following season Emery was fired by the North London club.
It was a decision his predecessor felt was a little premature.
"They didn't give him enough time, but there is a lot to talk about. For example, is it right that a team who is not successful in the group stages can play in the Europa League,” Arsene Wenger said several years later.
"For the last 10 years, the teams who are not successful in the Champions League go on to win the UEFA Cup. So, he has transformed a non-successful team into a successful one with Sevilla.
"It was more to give an importance to the trophy than to the sporting integrity. I think Unai Emery is a great coach, he has shown it in Spain and he is constantly at the top level.”
Wenger is certainly correct in asserting that Emery has successfully rehabilitated his reputation.
Post-Arsenal he joined Villarreal, despite the club’s sparse resources he delivered the Europa League trophy and took the club on an extraordinary run to the Champions League semi-finals the following year.
And according to the Spaniard, those past experiences in North London only made him stronger.
“I am better prepared to face a new challenge in the Premier [League],” he said after being appointed by Villa.
“I already have a year and four months of experience in this League. I think my first year at Arsenal was nice. It was broken by some things that I have identified that I am now going to try to avoid.
“I have always had an internal objective of having a new opportunity and coming back better prepared and I think that at Villarreal I have acquired a continuity that has made them call me back from England. It’s more of a challenge than a rematch.
“I had to accept it as something very professional.”
Evident Improvement
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 11: Steven Gerrard is unveiled as the new head coach of Aston Villa ... [+]
Emery joined an Aston Villa team that had been going nowhere fast under Steven Gerrard.
Languishing in the relegation zone, the soccer was painfully dull and fans, understandably, felt disconnected from their team.
Given his pedigree, it perhaps should not come as a surprise that Emery was able to change that, but the speed at which he managed to do so was notable.
A season of struggle became the start of a new adventure with relegation worries swapped for European aspiration.
From the outset, it was Emery who sold that as a vision.
“Villa makes me return to the Premier League and challenges me to take steps in such a competitive league. I can build a team to go back to Europe,' Emery said of his appointment.
“Everyone has their story. Aston Villa have already won a Champions League. We must equip ourselves with capacity. Chelsea, Arsenal did it... The two owners have the illusion of taking a step forward. We have joined our paths for this.”
Champions League Possibility
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: A fan wearing an Aston Villa scarf ahead of the Premier League ... [+]
This season there is a strong possibility that changes to the Champions League format will result in the Premier League being granted five places.
Emery therefore only needs to repeat his performance at Arsenal to deliver qualification.
Of course that is easier said than done with current European hopefuls Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United vying with resurgent Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur for the privilege of Champions League soccer.
The difference, Aston Villa will hope, is that unlike Tottenham or Newcastle United, its manager has years of experience in earning qualification for an outsider.
This summer astute recruitment has bolstered Villa’s already decent squad with the potential for even greater improvement.
That’s thanks to a new man at the helm of the club’s soccer operations, Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo also known as ‘Monchi', who also served as director of soccer at Sevilla whilst Emery was leading the team to great successes.
Pundits have already identified this partnership as being crucial in the Villains' push to join England's elite.
"Unai Emery is a brilliant manager. He was brilliant the first time around when he went to Arsenal but sometimes things don’t work,” said former Valencia coach Gary Neville.
"I really fancy him, he’s a manager that knows exactly what he wants and has brought a group of people that have worked with him before.
“The General Manager that I had at Valencia is his General Manager at Aston Villa – he knows exactly what he’s doing, he’s been round the block and he’s a top manager – they’ll deliver this season.”
