Aston Villa’s league season can be separated into two sections — the first being rather limp.
Six wins in 21 fixtures between September and February did little to suggest Villa could qualify for Europe — let alone the Champions League — again.
Following a 4-1 battering at Crystal Palace on February 25th — in retrospect, a turning point — they had kept just three clean sheets in 28 league matches. Only Southampton and Chelsea had made more mistakes leading to an opponent’s shot.
Frankly, Villa were stumbling along, with any sense of adrenaline achieved solely via the Champions League. Domestic form was sub-par and Villa were struck by a general malaise in possession and a porousness out of it.
“We’ve had some good results but we’ve been far too inconsistent,” said John McGinn at the time. “We’ve been far too easy to score against. We’re aware and need to change those things.”
That night at Selhurst Park led to deep introspection. Villa knew how galling it was, characterised by deputy goalkeeper Robin Olsen’s chaotic half-time warm-up and Unai Emery seemingly doubting his own system by matching the hosts’ back three formation.
Villa fell to tenth and Emery had held a meeting with his players to discuss the second half of the campaign. He reiterated that, despite their standing and difficulties in clicking into form, all was not lost. This was a moment to draw a line in the sand and look to what they could control — not dwell on the regrets of the previous months.
Villa’s defeat at Selhurst Park in February was a turning point in their league campaign (Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Emery understood this was a season where few teams were in rude health and reckoned that, if Villa’s January acquisitions came close to making the desired impact and some semblance of momentum could emerge, they still had an opportunity of qualifying for the Champions League. He asked the club to arrange a warm weather training camp in Dubai.
Emery had to shore up Villa’s foundations — they needed to be tougher to beat. The most straightforward way to do this was through registering more clean sheets and improving the defensive structure. It was hoped, in theory, this would turn hard fought draws into wins.
Emiliano Martinez appeared emotional at full time following the 2-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur. He will enter the summer with uncertainty over his future. If this was to be his final bow at Villa Park, then he went out in true Martinez fashion.
Villa recorded their sixth clean sheet in nine fixtures since the defeat to Palace. Twice as many as they had picked up beforehand in the campaign, conceding an average of 1.42 goals per ninety minutes. After what turned out to be a comfortable win over Tottenham, Emery asserted his players were in their “best moment.” No Premier League team has accrued more points over this period.
Opta’s supercomputer still has sixth as Villa’s most-likely finishing position, but there are sure to be further twists between now and next Sunday.
“We are now being more consistent through having more players available,” Emery said in his pre-match press conference. “One example is that we didn’t have two left centre backs in (Tyrone) Mings and Pau (Torres) available. When they are both available, it is fantastic, because I can choose in different matches and different ways to prepare each game.
“I remember when we played here against West Ham (in January). We drew 1-1 and Mings got injured and Pau was not available. Left-back Lucas Digne played 60 minutes as a centre back. In that moment, we had problems. But how we are performing now is that there are more players available and through that, we are feeling stronger.”
Rightfully, Emery pointed out recovering personnel as a significant factor behind the revived defensive record, having repeatedly yearned for more clean sheets throughout the season. Yet there is something to be said for Villa’s small alterations to the defensive set-up.
Villa have grown more patient without the ball, though more organised. The fabled offside trap of last season has been curbed; Villa’s defence is more pragmatic, deeper and less willing to hold the defensive line so steadfastly high.
This season, the team’s average defensive line has dropped off by four metres. When the margins are so tight in elite level football, this distance is not to be underestimated. Clearly, there has been a shift in approach.
A less proactive press has meant an onus on Villa retaining a compact shape and condensing space between the lines.Villa are low to middling across most out of possession metrics, so rely upon blocking and screening passes through the lines.
When an opponent has comfortable possession, Emery has increasingly reverted to his early first season tactics of dropping a winger — sometimes two — into the full-back positions. This is due to Emery wanting his full-back close to his central defender, which in turn reduces space centrally.
“We need to be in our structure tactically solid, and now we are,” said Emery. “This is the way.”
Emery rarely allows himself out of the stoney-faced straightjacket that often engulfs him before or after games. But even the most serious and focused individual can afford a moment to smile.
His side are on their longest unbeaten run at home since May 1977 across all competitions. It has formed the bedrock of Villa qualifying for Europe in three consecutive seasons and has hosted the most memorable nights of the season. It felt an appropriate moment for Emery and his players to enjoy themselves, even if the final match at Old Trafford will be the season’s determining ninety minutes.
(Michael Steele/Getty Images)
He took selfies in the crowd before going upstairs for his press conference, where he checked his own phone.
“Chelsea won? Ok, I expected it!” Emery smiled. “It’s not in our hands but we are in the race.”
The latest win may prove the most significant of the lot. Villa go into the final day still in pursuit of a Champions League spot, regardless of a lukewarm domestic season that took, in reality, more than 25 matches to shake into life. The club’s recovery has much to do with returning players and strengthening in the winter, but the foundations have been underpinned by a defensive renewal.
(Header photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images)