Unai Emery finally makes Aston Villa declaration after several flat-out refusals

The day has finally arrived, Unai Emery has backed down and admitted Aston Villa are in the UEFA Champions League fight after a season-long denial.

A stunning 2-0 victory away at title challengers Arsenal has solidified the Villans’ place in the top four by three points, while the gap to Newcastle United in sixth is now 13. It’s also given Emery the confidence to dream about a remarkable return to Europe’s most elite competition – something he’s refused to do when asked on several occasions previously.

Even when battling right at the summit approaching Christmas, Emery flat-out refused to admit Villa were in the race for Europe altogether, let alone for the Champions League. It was always a case of waiting “until day 33” and now that time has arrived, the experienced head coach is ready to guide Villa to a historic finale.

“I am very happy. I think the players were very focused. We were analysing our process as a team and individually. We prepared this match really as a very difficult match, but a great opportunity to get three points,” Emery said in the Emirates Stadium press room.

“Day 33. Okay, 63 [points]... we could now be contenders,” Emery crucially continued. “We must be very demanding to keep it.”

Villa’s potentially season-defining win at Arsenal on Sunday was no fluke. Emery’s approach didn’t go entirely to plan in the first half as the Gunners forced Emiliano Martinez into an array of impressive saves, but the visitors dictated the second period.

Youri Tielemans saw a long-range effort reverberate off the crossbar before Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins were clinical to score a quickfire double salvo in minutes 84 and 87. The Emirates, the Arsenal players and Mikel Arteta were in disbelief but it was a deserved three points for Villa.