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Might this season be Aston Villa's moment?

Nine straight wins in every tournament - 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 were unable to secure a victory in any of their opening five Premier League matches and were the last team in the league to score.

They host Manchester United on Sunday before playing away at Chelsea and facing leaders Arsenal to conclude 2026 - three games which could determine their place in the championship battle.

Villa have not lifted significant silverware since winning the League Cup in 1996 but, occupying third place in both the Premier League and Europa League, their drought could be broken in remarkable fashion.

The Manager's Measured Stance

Unai Emery refuses to yield to any external demands to proclaim Villa are in the title race.

However, the stats speak volumes, 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 epitomised the character of his side and the momentum they now carry.

"We are not feeling the pressure, we are filled with ambition and we try to be competitive in Europe and in the Premier League," Emery said. "Enjoy each match, try to prepare then rest. The players must feel comfortable doing it."

Emery has been cautious to steer clear of any unnecessary focus on his Villa players. After all, they are earning enough attention through their stunning form.

Transformation from Struggles to Success

That excellent form is in sharp opposition to a season's opening in which they were unable to win after their initial six fixtures, including a Carabao Cup loss to Brentford, and did not even find the net in the Premier League until a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on 21 September.

The squad gathered for talks to review their worrying beginning and talk about how to return to form. There was a acknowledgement there had been a hangover from falling short of the Champions League.

Villa ended the season in sixth last season and missed out on the top five on goal difference following 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, including beating Manchester City 1-0 and this month's nail-biting 2-1 triumph over Arsenal.

There has also been gradual change, not upheaval under Emery, as seven members of the squad who played in the head coach's first match - a 3-1 victory against United in November 2022 - are still crucial now.

Learning from Past Campaigns

"The last year is an example and it's an lesson for us. Sometimes we were playing excellently, we were reaching our goals, but maybe if we were aiming higher, maybe even we could achieve even greater things," Emery stated.

He added, "This is the third season I am here, I am really very motivated, but [also] holding higher standards than when I started. My objective has many aspects to enhance."

Ending the Long Wait

The most recent occasion Villa claimed a significant honour - beating Leeds 3-0 in the League Cup - feels like a different era.

It has been a long wait since, with Villa being defeated in two FA Cup finals and two League Cup finals over the years.

Emery, a Europa League winner with Sevilla and Villarreal, stated on his first day in charge that the primary objective was to lift a cup. 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 resolve in the back of our heads to prove this team we have constructed 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 feel it this year."

The critical period begins now, with Villa poised to discover if they are fated to become kings or merely influential players in the championship battle.