Aston Villa stayed up by the skin of their teeth after returning to the Premier League last campaign, surviving on the final day of the season by a single point.
There have been no such problems this year, as Dean Smith’s side have kicked on in their sophomore season.
Villa sit in the top half of the table as the season winds down, well safe of relegation with weeks to go, and still holding onto hope of a top seven finish and a place in next season’s Europa League.
This dramatic improvement has been achieved with stronger performances in both attack and defence, with multiple key factors propelling them to better all-round play.
Defensive Stability
After serving as the achilles heel for Dean Smith’s side in 2019/20, Villa’s defence has been the bedrock of their uptick in performances this season.
The addition of goalkeeper Emi Martinez was a stroke of genius, as the Argentinian sits 2nd in the Premier League in prevented goals per 90 minutes (0.29), measured by taking actual goals conceded away from expected goals conceded.
The all-English back four in front of him has been set in stone, injuries and suspensions notwithstanding, and the three holdovers from last season, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Matt Targett have all shown improvement. This is backed up by the football performance grading site WhoScored.com
Matty Cash has hit the ground running since his move from Nottingham Forest, making the step up from the Championship look easy and garnering the highest grade (6.95) of all Villa’s defenders in his rookie Premier League season.
This defensive unit has amassed 14 clean sheets so far this term, third in the top flight and just one behind the club’s Premier League record with five games to go.
The X-Jacktor
An unignorable element of Villa’s rise is the scintillating form of their captain, Jack Grealish.
Villa’s talisman has increased his goal involvement, providing six assists and 10 goals, and has been one of the very best players in the Premier League this season.
Grealish leads the league in goal creating actions per 90 minutes with 0.91, and despite missing 11 games through injury, still paces the league in carries into the penalty area (75) and fouls drawn (99).
The midfielder, who turns 26 this year and is entering the prime years of his career, has been at the peak of his powers this campaign, and his time on the sidelines might be the only thing that will stop Aston Villa from qualifying for Europe.
Wat a Signing
Villa’s braintrust forked out up to £33m to reunite Dean Smith with his former Brentford striker Ollie Watkins last summer, and so far it has been money well spent.
Watkins has started every game of his maiden Premier League season and has contributed to 17 goals, scoring 13 and assisting four.
That’s a notable improvement from last year, when Villa struggled to get production from their strikers, with Wesley and Ally Samatta tallying just seven goal involvements in a combined 35 appearances.
Beyond just the goals, Watkins has been an energetic spearhead for Villa. Watkins ranks 2nd in the Premier League in pressures by forwards (557) and 7th for all players.
Last season, only Jack Grealish contributed to 10 or more goals for Villa, this season, Watkins and fellow new signing Bertrand Traore (five goals and five assists) have joined that list in 2020/21.
The contribution of new signings is a theme in Aston Villa’s surge up the Premier League table this season. The club have spent over £90m on new talent this season, following on from the £140m they shelled out in their first season back in the top flight.
It’s easy to spend money, but it’s much harder to spend it well. So far, it seems the recruitment team at Villa Park has done exactly that.
Backed by ambitious and wealthy owners in Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, Aston Villa show no signs of being content with a mid-table finish in the future.
More spending should be anticipated this summer, and if they keep hold of prize asset Grealish, Villa’s ascent towards the Premier League’s elite will be difficult to stop.
The Villa Ramble 
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