#AVFC held talks with the PL in recent months over frustration of festive schedule & two London games within 72 hours. Asked reasoning for why they're facing Arsenal again without playing Nottm Forest. No formal complaint, just queries.More @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...

The numbers do not lie. Across the last three Premier League seasons, Aston Villa have won more points from losing positions than any other Premier League side (54). They do not know when they are beaten. @jacobtanswell.bsky.social 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...

Said in the summer that qualifying for Europe would be Emery’s biggest achievement at #AVFC, due to the many challenges, including the nightmare summer & others getting stronger on paper. So to be entrenched in a CL spot means they & Emery are doing something quite extraordinary

Across the last three Premier League seasons, Aston Villa have won more points from losing positions than any other Premier League side (54). They just don’t know when they are beaten. Piece @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...

The regularity with which #AVFC snatch wins from the jaws of defeat has happened too many times under Emery to be down to fortune. This season is extraordinary. @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/690...

Instant analysis: How did #AVFC change the game? Piece live on @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...

FT: Chelsea 1-2 #AVFC Villa just win. That’s it. When you have this resilience (Lindelof and Konsa defended excellently) and Emery’s in-game acumen, you are one powerhouse. 18 points recovered from losing positions, a fifth away win - all coming from behind. 11 straight wins.

Bogarde and Digne coming on. #AVFC

Boubacar Kamara will also miss #AVFC's match away to Arsenal due to picking up his fifth yellow of the season.

Loving this tussle between Rogers and James. Changes have made a huge difference. Onana an excellent presence. #AVFC have come from behind in all their away league wins this season...

Sanchez saves from Maatsen. Brilliant from Sancho off the right. Now #AVFC are the team creating 2v1s. What a shift in momentum. But, to be honest, given how Villa's season has gone, I'm not surprised. Kind of quite apt

Incredible. #AVFC had been gradually getting better but were still second best. Less than four minutes after Emery rings the changes, Watkins, the sub, scores, after being put through by Rogers, who from the left, and who had been put on the left during the reshuffle. 1-1

Rogers now off the left, Tielemans central and Sancho, for the first time at #AVFC, is on the right

Watkins, Onana and Sancho are coming on. #AVFC

#AVFC had a corner, but Chelsea kept three strikers up on the halfway line. It's early on in the second half, but Villa have not found a way to stop passes into the half spaces for Palmer and Fernandez. Brilliant intervention from McGinn to stop it from being 2-0.

#AVFC had a corner, but Chelsea kept three strikers up on the halfway line. It's early on in the second half, but Villa have not found a way to stop passes into the half spaces for Palmer and Fernandez. Brilliant intervention from McGinn to stop it from being 2-0.

HT: Chelsea 1-0 #AVFC Villa been second best in all areas. Chelsea are 2v1 out-wide yet still retain an overload centrally. Villa's response has been to sit and protect space, but have to imagine the only way they turn this around is by being brave and changing the structure

A brief back and forth between the two benches. #AVFC coaches wanted the goal to go to VAR. Chelsea's bench tells them to sit down. The goal had been coming, in fairness but annoying for Villa to concede from a corner, when they've been outplayed in open play but had hung on

Goal Chelsea. Somehow goes in from Reece James' corner. 1-0 #AVFC

#AVFC basically being overloaded in midfield, so can't retain the ball and then Chelsea are playing quickly out-wide, so it's 1v1s against Villa's full-backs. Need a long-ranger, I reckon

Matty Cash booked for a foul on Garnacho. So will miss the next game against Arsenal. #AVFC

Tough going for Villa. Palmer & Enzo/Cucurella standing between the lines (like #AVFC's 10s do) & neither Konsa or Lindelof are stepping onto them, so means Villa are deep and protecting space. Good in-box blocks/clearances but have to find a way of imposing themselves

Just one touch in the first 20 minutes for Malen. 36 passes in total for #AVFC - struggling to keep the ball and under pressure. Emery has been calm on the sidelines (wanting Cash to keep making runs forward as he's the spare man) but his side need to find a way to change things

Very lively start.Chelsea in 3-2-5 with the ball so have five players across #AVFC's backline, which Villa are trying to get to grips with. Similar to last year, Villa in shape and struggling to retain the ball, but have good space if they can find Rogers' feet or Malen in behind

Emery's usual go-to against the bigger teams is an Onana-Kamara axis with Tielemans further ahead. But #AVFC are more fluid with the ball when Tielemans is deeper. Villa tend to get good value against Chelsea when they can pass beyond Caicedo-Tielemans obviously the best at this

#AVFC XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendia, Rogers; Malen Two changes from the win against Manchester United. Tielemans drops deeper (Onana on bench) with Malen replacing Watkins.

Happy holidays, all. #AVFC have an opportunity to equal an all time club record of 11 straight wins set in both 1897 & 1914. In other words, a landmark feat.Villa face a Champions League rival, so another huge game/test. Some similarities in style definitely adds to the interest

Aston Villa January transfer dealsheet: @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

🚨WEDNESDAY POD!🚨 It’s @acjimbo.bsky.social, @oilysailor.bsky.social, Art De Roché & @jacobtanswell.bsky.social earlier than usual to preview the Premier League weekend! 🥶Palmer v Rogers 😳Bruno-less Man Utd v Newcastle 📈Milner stats 🏆AFCON update with @mahermezahi.bsky.social pod.fo/e/36c8bf

Aston Villa 2025 review: Best moment, worst moment, best game, best player, biggest surprise, favourite stat and favourite quote... No prize for guessing the final one. Piece @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...

From Old Trafford ghosts to Villa Park euphoria: How Unai Emery's Aston Villa recovered, recalibrated and transformed Piece on @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/690...

Unai Emery on throwing his coat in celebration (again): "My adrenaline! I did it because in the first half, I was not happy with how Morgan Rogers was performing then. He scored a fantastic goal but we needed more. He scored the second goal because he was more aggressive." #AVFC

Instant analysis - #AVFC 2-1 Manchester United: Morgan Rogers' brilliance, Emi Martinez and Villa's stunning transformation. Piece @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...

Full-time: #AVFC 2-1 Manchester United One home defeat in 2025. Long-range strikes. Big saves. Regular rallies. Third in the league. Three points off the top. Some ghosts against United banished. Morgan Rogers.

Emi Martinez, the player who pushed to join Man Utd, is now whipping up Villa Park as they near the finish line. He underlines the change in mood and feeling around #AVFC. Stunning, really

Buendia and Guessand replace Onana and McGinn. #AVFC

Digne and Malen coming on. #AVFC

Rogers is a phenomenon. #AVFC have basically done very little going forward before or during Rogers' goal. But here he is again, picking up the ball on the left and whipping, again, another effort towards the far corner. 2-1 Villa. Emery rips off his coat in celebration.

1v1s all across the frontline. Wonder how long until Malen comes on and you start to see #AVFC's midfield to start passing through Martinez and Ugarte... Villa not keeping the ball well after regaining it - Villa Park trying to rally

Rogers' goal was incredible and pure individualism, but #AVFC have been generally flat. Have ceded ground and momentum too often. Against a weakened/depleted United side, especially in midfield, Emery would expect the likes of Kamara/Onana/Rogers/McGinn/Tielemans to take over

Bruno Fernandes is off for Lisandro Martinez. Big chance for #AVFC to dominate in midfield.

He's done it again. Incredible. Another outstanding strike from Morgan Rogers. #AVFC not been great in the first half, but as is becoming common practice, exceptional individual work from the attackers. He cuts inside Yoro and unleashes into the far corner. He keeps doing it. 1-0

Emery wants his FBs stay between the width of the box when defending and instead ask the players ahead to defend wide areas. But it can be difficult against a wing-back system that switches the play often. United are doing this with Dorgu and Dalot and it is pinning #AVFC back

#AVFC not at their best yet. Not making the most of turnovers, especially when United give it away in midfield. Need to get Tielemans in the game more.

Emery is instructing #AVFC's right side to make short sharp passes, in turn attracting United players before then playing a quick switch out to Rogers, who, with an overlapping left back, tries to create a 2v1.

Amorim is basically asking Heaven and Yoro to play 1v1 against Watkins and Rogers and win those duels, all within a high line and all of the time. Seems pretty risky... Watkins movement been good so far. #AVFC

McGinn tests Lammens. #AVFC's plan out of possession was obvious from how they regained the ball - let Heaven have it but as soon as it goes into midfield (namely Ugarte), they pounce. Villa's midfield is so powerful and will get lots of chances to win the ball and break.

McGinn, Watkins and Rogers are three v three against United's centre-backs. Similar to last week, Emery asking his usual no 10s in Rogers and McGinn to stay wide and stretch United's back three. Looks more like a typical 4-2-3-1. Lots of space to break into... #AVFC