Aston Villa's Remarkable Turnaround Under Unai Emery
Aston Villa have transformed their early season struggles into an impressive run of form, winning eight of their last ten matches across all competitions. As domestic football resumes following the November international break, Unai Emery's side find themselves positioned just two points off third place in the Premier League, marking one of the most dramatic improvements in recent top-flight memory.
The Villans have excelled both domestically and in Europe, securing victories against Tottenham, Manchester City, and Bournemouth after the October break, with their only recent setback coming at Liverpool. Their Europa League campaign has been equally promising, with three wins from four league phase games establishing them as genuine contenders on the continental stage.
Comprehensive Player Ratings Analysis
BirminghamLive's John Townley has assessed every Villa squad member's contributions during the opening months of the campaign, revealing some standout performers and several players who need to elevate their game.
Top Performers Earning 8/10 Ratings
Several Villa players have earned impressive 8/10 ratings for their consistent excellence. Matty Cash has been particularly outstanding, providing a sublime assist for Emi Buendia's goal at Tottenham before scoring the winner against Manchester City.
Ezri Konsa continues to demonstrate why he's one of the squad's most important figures, bringing experience and leadership that backup options cannot match. His performances could strengthen his case for England selection ahead of next summer's World Cup in the USA.
Spanish defender Pau Torres reminded fans of his quality after replacing the injured Tyrone Mings, playing a crucial role in Villa's form turnaround with his exceptional ball-playing ability.
In midfield, Boubacar Kamara has been "top class" according to Townley, doing the dirty work while also demonstrating quality distribution, including a beautiful pass for Donyell Malen against Burnley.
John McGinn stepped up to end Villa's winless run, scoring crucial goals against Bologna and Fulham, while Emi Buendia has been in excellent form after deciding to stay and fight for his place, contributing goals and assists consistently.
Players Needing Improvement
At the other end of the spectrum, several players received 5/10 ratings indicating they need to raise their performance levels. Harvey Elliott has been used sparingly by Emery since joining from Liverpool, struggling to feature regularly and being left out of squads entirely for matches against Manchester City and Bournemouth.
Evann Guessand has failed to build on early encouraging signs, missing several key chances against Bologna, Sunderland, and Go Ahead Eagles that he should have converted.
Most concerningly, striker Ollie Watkins has managed just one goal in 16 matches this season. While service has been limited at times, the England international knows he must improve as Villa lack alternative regular scorers.
Solid Contributors and Squad Players
Backup goalkeeper Marco Bizot exceeded expectations with seven appearances and three clean sheets, particularly impressing against Feyenoord. Lucas Digne recorded three assists and created numerous other chances, maintaining his position as first-choice left-back.
Lamare Bogarde has come of age, proving effective as a holding midfielder or in defence, while Amadou Onana recovered from a difficult start to form a strong partnership with Kamara before the November break.
Morgan Rogers showed courage during difficult early weeks and scored a beauty against Tottenham, playing an important role in the club's turnaround despite not reaching last season's high standards consistently.
Looking Ahead to Crucial Fixtures
With matches against Leeds United, BSC Young Boys, and Wolves before the end of next week, these player ratings provide a clear picture of Villa's strengths and weaknesses as they approach a potentially season-defining period.
The return of Youri Tielemans from calf injury provides a significant boost, given he was the club's undisputed player of the season last term. His creative influence could be crucial in maintaining Villa's push for Champions League qualification and European success.
As Unai Emery's side continue their campaign, the distribution of high and low ratings underscores both the squad depth that has driven their success and the areas requiring attention if they're to sustain their challenge at the Premier League's upper echelons.
