ASTON VILLA – A CLUB BACK ON THE RISE TO THE TOP?
November 19
-
In 2020-21 season, Aston Villa are sitting in 6th position in the league table after 8 match days level on points with Chelsea with 15 points to their tally.
-
They put up their best-ever performance since the promotion, beating Liverpool 7-2 at home
-
They went on to defeat UEFA Champions League runners Arsenal 3-0 away from home and also defeated high flying Leicester City 1-0.
Aston Villa is a top-flight football team based in Birmingham, United Kingdom which has a rich history. Aston Villa were one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888 and of the Premier League in 1992. The club had been in the Premier League since its inception. However, after a difficult few years in the Premier League following several poor performances, the club eventually got relegated in 2016. The club got promoted in the 2019-20 season, after spending 2 seasons in the championship. The club from West Midlands, failed to resonate the form they showed during their promotion season in the championship and ultimately ended up being in another relegation scrap but somehow after drawing in the last day of the season against relegation rivals West Ham United.
In the 2020-21 season, however, the start has been a completely different story for the Villains as the club are sitting in 6th position in the league table after 8 matchdays level on points with Chelsea with 15 points to their tally. During this wonderful start to the campaign, the club have faced difficult challenges and overcome them with ease starting from a match against champions Liverpool where they put up their best-ever performance since getting promoted winning the game 7-2 at home. They went on to defeat UEFA Champions League runners, Arsenal 3-0 away from home and also defeated high flying Leicester City 1-0. The fast start has come as somewhat of a surprise to many as they were tipped for Relegation this season following a difficult 2019-20 season however, they are proving everyone wrong with their overwhelming start to the league campaign.
Aston Villa made great bits of business in the summer transfer window, improving their squad from all aspects both defensively as well as going forward with the attack. Some of the new signings have been crucial towards Villa’s success whereas the other players of the squad have also blossomed under the influence of the new signings.
Some of Villa’s top players this season include:
- EMILIANO MARTINEZ
The goalkeeper position was always a position that needed to be addressed after a disappointing 19-20 season. The coaching staff at the club identified Argentine Emiliano Martinez as the man to be the first choice goalkeeper at the club and signed him for 20 million pounds from Arsenal. His impact was huge as he made his mark in his debut match for the club saving a penalty against Sheffield United to win all three points for the club in a 1-0 victory. He made valuable contributions in the other matches as well pulling off vital saves to deny the opposition from scoring. Villa currently have 4 clean sheets to their name and a lot of it has been down to the 22 important saves that Martinez had to make during the first 8 matches he played for the club.
- TYRONE MINGS
English center back Tyrone Mings has been a bright spot for the Villains last season and has been delightful once again in the present season. His tall and powerful presence at the back has been helpful in preventing a lot of clear cut chances for the opposition teams. Mings’s current form has earned him a starting slot at the backline of the English defence under manager Gareth Southgate. Mings has been a very important player for the club and with his young age and willingness to improve, the signs are looking very good for the Englishman.
- JACK GREALISH
Jack Grealish has been ever-present at the club for quite some time. The former Ireland and present England International, has always stayed loyal to the Villa faithful and has stayed put at his boyhood club despite serial attention from the top teams in the Premier League. Ever since Aston Villa’s promotion to the league, he has led the club’s players by example with his brilliant performances. The 25-year-old has been ever-present in the Villa midfield and his tireless performances have made Villa an exciting team going forward.
- ROSS BARKLEY
The signing of Ross Barkley on loan from Chelsea was one of the most important bits of business the club have done and rightfully so, the player has been superb since his arrival at the club. Barkley has been a thorn in the opposition sides going forward. His piercing runs past the opposition defence has excelled his playing style greatly. His ability to pick out a pass and control the play has also helped the club improve with him in the midfield. Aston Villa looks like a solid side that can challenge for a top 8 finish in the league this season.
5. OLLIE WATKINS
24-year-old England International, Ollie Watkins, has been a bright spark for Villa since his arrival at the club from Brentford in the summer transfer window. Wakins’s first 7 matches representing Villa’s attack have yielded 6 goals, 3 of which came in a 7-2 victory at home to champions Liverpool. He was also influential in the 3-0 win away at Arsenal where he managed to score two important goals. Aston Villa have been criticized a lot by the English media and the pundits for overpaying for Watkins as he signed for 28 million pounds. However, he has proved all the doubters wrong with his quick-fire start to live in the Premier League. Aston Villa’s frontline has definitely benefited from his arrival at the club and the management would only have high expectations of him from here on.