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Could 2026 be Aston Villa's moment?

A nine-match winning streak in every match - closing in on the record of 11 established in 1897 - have launched Unai Emery's side as genuine contenders.

This remarkable run has come following Villa failed to win any of their opening five Premier League matches and went longer than.

They welcome Manchester United on Sunday before visiting Chelsea and facing leaders Arsenal to finish the year - three games which could shape their role in the title race.

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

Avoiding the Spotlight

Unai Emery refuses to yield to any public calls to announce Villa are fighting for the championship.

However, the numbers tell a story, as their single top-flight defeat since August came against Liverpool in October, and after that Villa have won six straight top-flight games.

Last Sunday's 3-2 comeback win over West Ham perfectly illustrated the strength of his side and the winning feeling they now possess.

"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 remain confident doing it."

Emery has been careful to avoid putting any additional spotlight on his Villa players. After all, they are attracting plenty of plaudits through their stunning form.

Turning the Season Around

That excellent form is in stark contrast to a season's opening in which they were without a victory 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 conducted a discussion to review their poor opening and discuss how to return to form. There was a understanding there had been a hangover from missing out on the Champions League.

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

After that stalemate 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 gradual change, not upheaval under Emery, as seven first-teamers who played in the head coach's first match - a 3-1 victory against United in November 2022 - continue to be important now.

Learning from Past Campaigns

"The last year is an blueprint and it's an experience for us. Sometimes we were doing a good job, we were meeting our targets, but maybe if we were getting our demands higher, maybe even we could go further," Emery stated.

He added, "This is the third season I am here, I am really very motivated, but [also] expecting more than when I arrived here. My objective has many aspects to work on."

Ending the Long Wait

The last time Villa claimed a significant honour - beating Leeds 3-0 in the League Cup - feels like a bygone age.

It has been a lengthy period 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 appointment that the primary objective was to win a trophy. 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 demonstrate their progress.

"Every time we go into a huge fixture now, we have that resolve in the back of our heads to demonstrate this team we have built over the past five or six years is deserving of more than a quarter-final, worth more than a semi-final," captain John McGinn told reporters. "The determination, I can sense it this year."

The pivotal stretch begins now, with Villa poised to discover if they are ready to be kings or merely influential players in the championship battle.