Three alarming stats Aston Villa boss Unai Emery cannot ignore despite fine run | OneFootball

Aston Villa claimed a 1-0 win over local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers that helped the Villains consolidate their place in the top four.

Villa have secured 24 points and are level with third-place Chelsea, a remarkable achievement considering their abysmal start to the season.

The Villans were winless in their first five Premier League games and managed to score only two goals in that stretch.

They have now won their last four league matches and 11 of their past 13 games in all competitions.

Manager Unai Emery praised Villa’s patience and resilience for the turnaround, and rightly so.

They have shown a remarkable ability to grind out results, winning their last three games by one-goal margins.

However, there are still some worrying signs in this team that Emery cannot afford to ignore.

Firstly, Aston Villa sit 17th for expected goals generated, a sign that they are not creating enough. Only West Ham United, Burnley, and Wolves rank below Emery’s side.

Also, the Birmingham-based club is 18th in the Premier League for big chances created.

They are not fashioning enough clear-cut chances, and it is one of the reasons why Ollie Watkins is struggling up top.

To further emphasise Villa’s lack of cutting edge in the final third, 9/16 (56%) of their Premier League goals have come from outside of the box this season.

If the Villans are serious about sustaining a top-four challenge, these numbers must improve quickly.

Relying on long-range efforts and narrow victories is not a sustainable formula across a long, unforgiving season.

Emery needs more incision between the lines, greater creativity in wide areas, and support for Watkins in the box.

Tactical tweaks, sharper movement in attacking zones, and potentially creative reinforcements in the winter window may be required to balance the system.

The defensive solidity and resilience deserve praise, but matches will soon demand more than grit and marginal gains.

The Villains have built momentum through discipline and belief.

However, they must evolve from survivors into genuine attacking contenders before their overreliance on low-probability goals catches up with them.