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Might this season be Aston Villa's year?

Nine consecutive victories in all competitions - nearing the team's historic mark of 11 achieved back in 1897 - have propelled Unai Emery's side into title contention.

This stunning form has come following Villa failed to win any of their first five Premier League matches and were the last team in the league to score.

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

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

Avoiding the Spotlight

Unai Emery will not bow to any external demands to announce Villa are fighting for the championship.

However, the numbers paint a clear picture, as their sole league loss since August came against Liverpool in October, and after that Villa have secured six consecutive top-flight games.

Last Sunday's 3-2 comeback win over West Ham exemplified the resilience of his side and the momentum they now have.

"We are not feeling under 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 careful to avoid putting any extra attention on his Villa players. After all, they are garnering sufficient notice through their excellent results.

From Slow Start to Spectacular Surge

That present run is in complete contrast to a season's opening in which they were winless after their first six matches, including a Carabao Cup loss to Brentford, and did not even register a league goal until a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on 21 September.

The squad conducted a discussion to assess their alarming start and discuss how to regain their form. There was a understanding there had been a lingering effect from falling short of the Champions League.

Villa ended the season in sixth last season and failed to reach the top five on goal difference after a contentious loss by Manchester United on the final day.

Since the draw at the Stadium of Light they have secured 15 victories in 17 matches, which includes beating Manchester City 1-0 and this month's nail-biting 2-1 triumph 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 - are still crucial now.

Building on Experience

"The last year is an model and it's an experience for us. Sometimes we were playing excellently, we were meeting our targets, but maybe if we were aiming higher, maybe even we could go further," Emery stated.

He added, "This is the third year I am here, I am incredibly driven, but [also] more demanding than when I first came. My objective has plenty of areas to work on."

A Trophy Drought

The last time Villa lifted top-level silverware - beating Leeds 3-0 in the League Cup - feels like a bygone age.

It has been a protracted drought since, with Villa losing two FA Cup finals and two League Cup finals since then.

Emery, a UEFA Europa League champion with Sevilla and Villarreal, stated on his arrival that the main goal was to lift a cup. Last season's FA Cup semi-final defeat remains painful.

A Europa Conference League semi-final defeat 18 months ago and a thrilling Champions League quarter-final exit last April indicate they are moving in the right direction.

"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 developed 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 destined to be kings or merely influential players in the race for the crown.