Aston Villa looked certain to be defeated for the majority of the first hour against Chelsea, who failed to capitalize on their dominant performance. However, the introduction of key substitutes, including Ollie Watkins, Jadon Sancho, and Amadou Onana, dramatically shifted the momentum in the second half, allowing Villa to secure a stunning comeback victory and claim all three points.
This result extended Aston Villa’s remarkable winning streak across all competitions to 11 matches, a feat that equals a club record previously set in 1897 and 1914. The Villans solidify their strong position in the Premier League, remaining third, three points behind leaders Arsenal and a significant ten points clear of Chelsea.
Watkins Hails Emery`s Game-Changing Strategy
England international Watkins, who netted two goals after coming off the bench, attributed the victory directly to a crucial tactical shift orchestrated by manager Unai Emery.
“Amazing win,” Watkins commented. “For me personally, to come on and score two goals is a great feeling, but to keep up this run and win at a tough place like Chelsea is truly amazing.”
He detailed the adjustments that paved the way for the turnaround:
“[Emery] changed it because Chelsea were playing man-for-man but they had an extra centre-back when we were going long. So when I came on second-half he brought Sancho on the wing and Morgan [Rogers]. I think it gave us a little more space and then put Youri [Tielemans] in the No. 10 so we had an extra body up there. Tactical genius, I would say.“
Emery Credits Resilience and Fresh Legs
Manager Unai Emery offered a measured response, stating that the core game plan remained consistent, but noted that Chelsea`s high intensity inevitably dropped off, enabling Villa to capitalize with fresh players.
Emery acknowledged Chelsea`s first-half dominance: “We kept the same game plan we had at the first half, but the first half they were playing fantastic. They were dominating. We couldn`t get the ball easily.” He stressed the necessity for “passion and resilience” during the halftime break. “In the second half we knew we could have our momentum, as well to control the game better than the first half,” he added.
He praised the impact of his substitutions, especially Watkins, who is now coming good after a slower start to the season. The former Brentford striker now boasts four goals and an assist in his last five Premier League matches.
“He was so, so focused. Keeping the game plan like we planned and doing his tasks… scoring goals is fantastic,” the Spanish coach added.
Focusing on Arsenal, Downplaying Title Hopes
Villa prepares for a critical clash against table-topping Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Having previously secured a 2-1 victory over the Gunners earlier this month, Watkins is eager for the rematch.
“I feel like teams are worried about us now,” Watkins stated. “Even if we may not play the prettiest football at times, they know we are going to eventually cause them problems.”
Despite the current high position and the possibility of going level on points with Arsenal with a win, both Watkins and Emery insisted the team must take a humble, game-by-game approach, dismissing current title discussions as premature.
Emery reiterated this stance, refusing to engage in title conversations until much later in the season. “We are not going to speak about our target in the league until we are in Day 34,” Emery stated, pointing out that established contenders like Liverpool and Chelsea possess “a huge power to get points.” He emphasized that while Villa is performing fantastically, maintaining humility is vital, especially with roughly 20 matches remaining in the campaign.
