Consistency, control, and the subtle markers of a title contender
The Premier League has this habit of laughing at certainty because every season starts off with a neat hierarchy, a list of usual suspects and an unspoken agreement about who is allowed to dream. And every season, between autumn and winter, that unspoken agreement quietly falls apart. This season, that disruption comes in claret and blue.
Aston Villa are only three points off the top of the Premier League, a point behind the reigning champions, and in the middle of a relentless run that simply refuses to cool down. Eleven consecutive wins on the trot in all competitions. Seventeen victories in nineteen matches. At this moment, Aston Villa are doing the most dangerous thing a team can do in this league: winning without drama, without an apology, and without waiting for validation.
Your @PremierLeague Player of the Matchweek…
❄️ @Morgz_10 ❄️ pic.twitter.com/ddMKHAIDuV
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 24, 2025
Since their victory over Manchester United followed by their victory against Chelsea, Villa have continued to extend their unbeaten streak to 11 matches in all competitions and are merely just three points behind the league leaders – Arsenal.
They are also just a single point behind Manchester City and so are very much in contention for the Premier League trophy.
The character of the win for United was exceptionally brilliant but underrated. Villa were far from at the top of their game and had to ride some pressure, not least when they missed telling chances through the headed effort of Matheus Cunha, who saw it wide. Nonetheless, they handled it well. Two pieces of quality from Morgan Rogers were enough to win it for them.
This same resilience was tested to its limit against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge yesterday. Trailing at half-time to a Joao Pedro strike and having been second-best for the opening hour, Villa looked set for a stumble. Yet, Unai Emery’s decisive substitutions turned the tide. Ollie Watkins, introduced off the bench, He equalized just minutes after coming on and then rose highest to power home an 84th-minute winner, securing a 2-1 victory. It was a performance that combined tactical adaptability with ruthless finishing, extending their winning run to eleven games and proving once again that they can find a way to win even when not at their fluent best.
These are the performances one usually expects from teams at the top of the table, where they have to handle adversity, take important chances, and finish games without risking too much.
This is proved by Villa’s current performances. In fact, they have won 17 out of 19 games across all competitions, which have gradually reduced the deficit on the current contenders on the league charts.
Although statistical projections from Opta are estimating a 5.27% possibility of clinching the title and a third-place finish, it is apparent that it is more than just a fluke performance by Villa.
The reasons are obvious. Erling Haaland is still the most decisive player in the league, and Manchester Citys experience in title-chasing is unbeatable. The depth of Arsenal’s players and their formations remains a team to beat.
Consistency for Villa has been achieved through control, not excitement. They know how to protect a lead, possess good organizational qualities when not in possession, and are improving in the way they create scoring opportunities.
Much of Villa’s consistency can be attributed to Unai Emery. His impact is visible in their organization, discipline, and ability to manage difficult phases of matches. Villa look prepared rather than reactive, with clearly defined roles and a tactical structure that holds under pressure.
At the other end of the pitch, Emiliano Martínez has provided the reliability expected of an elite goalkeeper, delivering key saves in high-pressure moments and giving Villa a defensive platform that allows them to manage games rather than chase them. Further forward, Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins have emerged as a decisive presence, offering directness, composure, and the ability to turn tight matches through individual quality.
The matches that follow could prove to be decisive. The upcoming away game against Arsenal would give them a clear insight into the championship chances. A successful outing in the upcoming matches would consolidate their position and solidify the feeling of being on the right track.
Aston Villa do not need to be crowned contenders to be recognized as one. Their table position, the consistency of their results, and the manner of their victories already locate them among the league’s defining forces this season.
Title races are not decided by labels, but by endurance. For now, Villa are enduring and until that changes, they remain impossible to ignore.
That in itself would be the clearest statement they could make.
