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Is this the year for Aston Villa's moment?

Nine consecutive victories in every match - nearing the team's historic mark of 11 established in 1897 - have catapulted Unai Emery's side as genuine contenders.

This remarkable run has come after Villa failed to win any of their opening five Premier League matches and had the longest run without a goal of.

They face at home Manchester United on Sunday before travelling to Chelsea and taking on leaders Arsenal to finish the year - three games which could determine their role in the title race.

Villa have not claimed a top honour since winning the League Cup in 1996 but, currently placed third in both the Premier League and Europa League, their long wait could come to an end in dramatic fashion.

Avoiding the Spotlight

Unai Emery will not bow to any public calls to proclaim Villa are challenging for the title.

However, the stats paint a clear picture, as their single top-flight defeat since August came against Liverpool in October, and from that point Villa have secured six consecutive top-flight games.

Last Sunday's come-from-behind 3-2 victory over West Ham epitomised the strength of his side and the positive energy they now possess.

"We are not experiencing 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 deliberate to prevent placing any additional spotlight on his Villa players. After all, they are earning enough attention through their stunning form.

From Slow Start to Spectacular Surge

That present run is in stark contrast to a beginning of the campaign in which they were unable to win after their first six matches, which included a Carabao Cup loss to Brentford, and did not even score in the league until a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on 21 September.

The squad held a meeting to review their alarming start and talk about how to return to form. There was a acknowledgement there had been a carry-over from missing out on the Champions League.

Villa finished sixth last season and missed out on the top five on goal difference after a controversial defeat by Manchester United on the final day.

Since the draw at the Stadium of Light they have won 15 of their 17 games, which includes beating Manchester City 1-0 and this month's dramatic 2-1 win over Arsenal.

There has also been progression, not an overhaul under Emery, as seven first-teamers who played in the head coach's first match - a 3-1 victory against United in November 2022 - remain key now.

Learning from Past Campaigns

"The last year is an blueprint and it's an lesson for us. Sometimes we were performing well, we were reaching our goals, but maybe if we were getting our demands higher, maybe even we could achieve even greater things," Emery stated.

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

Ending the Long Wait

The last time Villa won a major trophy - beating Leeds 3-0 in the League Cup - feels like a lifetime ago.

It has been a lengthy period since, with Villa falling 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 arrival that the primary objective was to lift a cup. Last season's FA Cup semi-final defeat still stings.

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 prove this team we have constructed 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 see it this year."

The decisive run begins now, with Villa poised to discover if they are destined to be champions or merely kingmakers in the title race.