Short answer — yes. As much as the media hate it they have to consider at this moment Aston Villa as title contenders… But a blog can’t end after a sentence….
After a tough start to the season, with uncertainty over half the squad and not a single Premier League goal in the opening month, Aston Villa looked miles off, questions were even being asked about the league campaign as a whole and whether we should focus on the Europa League. The system, the depth, and even the direction under Unai Emery were being thrown around.
Since then? Villa have flipped the narrative.
They’ve won 9 of their last 10 league matches and 13 of their last 15 in all competitions, turning early-season anxiety into the kind of momentum teams dream of. The Europa League campaign has helped too — meaningful midweek minutes for rotated players without disrupting the league too much.
Suddenly the question doesn’t feel delusional anymore: are Aston Villa genuine title contenders?
Let’s break it down properly.
1. The Underlying Stats Tell the Story
This run isn’t luck — the numbers behind the games actually support the results.
· Villa are consistently creating enough chances to win matches, especially in recent weeks. But they are also winning games differently, when teams are playing a low block or are proving too difficult to break down Villa just shoot…And that has ended well this season with 9 goals scored from outside the box.
· Defensively, they’ve tightened up significantly compared to previous seasons, even when we were struggling, we were still relatively strong at the back and reducing big chances conceded.
· Their goals-for vs goals-against trend over the last ten matches is exactly what you expect from a top-level side.
· Most importantly: Villa are controlling games again. Emery-ball looks like Emery-ball.
You don’t become title contenders by grinding out narrow wins — you do it by repeatedly winning the underlying battles. Right now, Villa are.
2. Who’s Actually Driving the Team Forward
This season hasn’t been about one standout star — and that’s exactly why Villa are dangerous.
· Donyell Malen has been one of the team’s most reliable sources of goals so far and looks more settled by the week.
· Emiliano Buendía has stepped up massively, adding goals, creativity and match-defining moments — including big ones in tight games.
· Ollie Watkins isn’t hitting last year’s numbers, but he’s still crucial: pressing, occupying defenders, linking play and giving Villa a platform. Even with only a few goals this season, he affects games.
· John McGinn, Pau Torres and Emiliano Martínez are the spine; leadership, calmness and big contributions in key moments. They are all so key to how we play. Martinez with his slow buildup at the start, Torres with his incredible passing range, McGinn sets the tempo.
The key point: Villa aren’t leaning on one talisman to carry them. Multiple players are contributing enough to keep the machine moving.
3. What Still Needs Improving
If you’re talking about a title push, you can’t ignore the weaker spots:
· Concentration lapses — a couple of goals this season have come from sloppy moments rather than opponents carving Villa open, our records from defending set pieces
· Away form vs the top sides — Villa Park is a fortress, but title-winning teams normally take more points on the road against the elite.
· Squad resilience — the spine is strong, but an injury crisis in certain positions would test depth quickly.
These aren’t fatal flaws. They’re the sort of details that decide how far a team can go, not whether they’re good enough.
4. How Villa Compare to the Actual Contenders
You can only be contenders if you stack up against the usual names — so how do Villa compare?
· Manchester City haven’t looked unbeatable this season, which opens a door.
· Arsenal are consistent, but have had patches where they struggle to break teams down.
· Liverpool are dangerous but far less secure defensively than in previous seasons.
· Tottenham started fast but lack the depth to sustain a long race.
Villa don’t have the biggest squad of the group, but they do have:
· A settled system
· A manager who thrives in long campaigns
· Multiple players hitting form
· A relentless home record
· The ability to win different types of games
When you put those factors together, Villa absolutely belong in the same conversation.
Final Verdict
Aston Villa aren’t a “nice early-season story”. They’re a serious side with a serious manager, a style that wins matches, and a run of form that can’t be ignored.
Are they title contenders?
Short answer — yes. Long answer — everything we’ve seen over the past two months suggests they’re in this race for real.
Villa are currently 25/1 to lift the title with Betano: https://www.betano.co.uk/en-gb/sports/240/meetings/54920110/all: Are Aston Villa Actually Title Contenders?
