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Could 2026 be Aston Villa's time?

Nine consecutive victories in every tournament - nearing the club record of 11 established in 1897 - have catapulted Unai Emery's side as genuine contenders.

This remarkable run has come after Villa did not win any of their initial five Premier League matches and went longer than.

They welcome Manchester United on Sunday before travelling to Chelsea and playing leaders Arsenal to conclude 2026 - three games which could define their role in the title race.

Villa have not claimed a top honour since lifting the League Cup in 1996 but, sitting third in both the Premier League and Europa League, their drought could come to an end in remarkable fashion.

The Manager's Measured Stance

Unai Emery is not giving in to any public calls to announce Villa are in the title race.

However, the stats tell a story, as their only Premier League defeat since August came against Liverpool in October, and from that point Villa have won six straight top-flight games.

Last Sunday's 3-2 comeback win over West Ham perfectly illustrated the strength of his side and the winning feeling they now possess.

"We are not feeling the pressure, we are driven by 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 be at ease doing it."

Emery has been cautious to prevent placing any additional spotlight on his Villa players. After all, they are earning enough attention through their stunning form.

Turning the Season Around

That excellent form is in sharp opposition to a start of the season in which they were without a victory after their first six matches, including 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 conducted a discussion to review their alarming start and plan how to get back on track. There was a understanding there had been a lingering effect from missing out on the Champions League.

Villa finished sixth last season and missed out on the top five on goal difference after a contentious loss by Manchester United on the final day.

After that stalemate at the Stadium of Light they have secured 15 victories in 17 matches, which includes beating Manchester City 1-0 and this month's thrilling 2-1 victory over Arsenal.

There has also been evolution rather than revolution under Emery, as seven first-teamers 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 example and it's an experience for us. Sometimes we were performing well, we were reaching our goals, but maybe if we were raising our standards, maybe even we could go further," Emery stated.

He added, "This is the third season I am here, I am really very motivated, but [also] more demanding than when I first came. My objective has a lot of things to work on."

The Quest for Silverware

The most recent occasion Villa lifted top-level silverware - beating Leeds 3-0 in the League Cup - feels like a lifetime ago.

It has been a protracted drought 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, declared on his appointment that the key aim was to secure silverware. Last season's FA Cup semi-final defeat is not forgotten.

A Europa Conference League semi-final defeat 18 months ago and a thrilling Champions League quarter-final exit last April show they are getting closer.

"Every time we go into a big game now, we have that drive in the back of our heads to show this team we have built over the past five or six years is worth more than a quarter-final, worth more than a semi-final," captain John McGinn told reporters. "The determination, I can see it this year."

The pivotal stretch begins now, with Villa poised to discover if they are fated to become champions or merely influential players in the title race.