Is Aston Villa capable of keep up a challenge for the crown?
Is this the year for Aston Villa's time?
A nine-match winning streak in all competitions - closing in on the club record of 11 established in 1897 - have propelled Unai Emery's side as genuine contenders.
This remarkable run has come following Villa were unable to secure a victory in any of their opening five Premier League matches and went longer than.
They host Manchester United on Sunday before playing away at Chelsea and playing leaders Arsenal to finish the year - three games which could determine their potential to be spoilers or champions.
Villa have not claimed a top honour since winning the League Cup in 1996 but, currently placed third in both the Premier League and Europa League, their trophy famine could come to an end in dramatic fashion.
Villa keep pressure on the top two following a brace from Rogers.
Emery's Cautious Approach
Unai Emery is not giving in to any external demands to announce Villa are in the title race.
However, the stats paint a clear picture, as their sole league loss since August came against Liverpool in October, and since then Villa have secured six consecutive top-flight games.
Last Sunday's dramatic 3-2 recovery over West Ham exemplified the resilience of his side and the momentum they now possess.
"We are not feeling under pressure, we are filled with ambition and we try to compete in Europe and in the Premier League," Emery said. "Enjoy each match, try to prepare then rest. The players must remain confident doing it."
Emery has been careful to avoid putting any unnecessary focus on his Villa players. After all, they are attracting plenty of plaudits through their excellent results.
Turning the Season Around
That excellent form is in stark contrast to a beginning of the campaign in which they were unable to win after their initial six fixtures, which included a Carabao Cup loss to Brentford, and did not even score in the league until a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on 21 September.
The squad held a meeting to assess their alarming start and plan how to regain their form. There was a understanding there had been a lingering effect from missing out on the Champions League.
Unai Emery has been in charge of Aston Villa since November 2022.
Villa came sixth last season and were denied the top five on goal difference following a contentious loss by Manchester United on the final day.
From that point at the Stadium of Light they have secured 15 victories in 17 matches, including beating Manchester City 1-0 and this month's dramatic 2-1 win over Arsenal.
There has also been progression, not an overhaul under Emery, as seven Villa players who played in the head coach's first match - a 3-1 victory against United in November 2022 - continue to be important now.
Learning from Past Campaigns
"The last year is an blueprint and it's an experience for us. Sometimes we were performing well, we were achieving our objective, but maybe if we were getting our demands higher, maybe even we could achieve even greater things," Emery stated.
He added, "This is the third year I am here, I am highly motivated, but [also] more demanding than when I first came. My objective has a lot of things to improve."
The Quest for Silverware
The most recent occasion Villa lifted top-level silverware - beating Leeds 3-0 in the League Cup - feels like a different era.
It has been a long wait since, with Villa losing two FA Cup finals and two League Cup finals over the years.
Emery, a Europa League winner with Sevilla and Villarreal, made it clear on his appointment that the main goal was to win a trophy. Last season's FA Cup semi-final defeat still stings.
A Europa Conference League semi-final defeat 18 months ago and a thrilling Champions League quarter-final exit last April demonstrate their progress.
"Every time we go into a major match now, we have that determination in the back of our heads to demonstrate this team we have built over the past five or six years is deserving of more than a quarter-final, worth more than a semi-final," captain John McGinn told reporters. "The determination, I can sense it this year."
The critical period begins now, with Villa poised to discover if they are ready to be champions or merely influential players in the title race.
