Aston Villa’s 2022/23 season was a classic tale of two halves with contrasting fortunes—escaping from the jaws of despair to the ecstasy of competing in Europe for the first time in 13 years.
After a really poor start to the season, which included just two wins out of 11 games and left the club 17th in the table threating to turn the season into a relegation survival one, Aston Villa decided to sack Steven Gerrard in October. Gerrard was replaced by Unai Emery, and the club’s upturn in fortunes was sensational.
Between the New Year’s Eve and the end of April, Unai Emery’s side won 11 out of 17 matches, losing just three, with a ten-game unbeaten streak lifting them from mid-table ignominy into the European spots. Villa beat an exciting Brighton side 2-1 on the final day of the season, which sparked wild celebrations at Villa Park, as it saw them hold onto seventh spot and qualify for the Europa Conference League play-off round.
In the story of a season of revival for Villa and the end of their 13-year-long exile from Europe, let us take a look at their three best players.
#Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins enjoyed his best goalscoring campaign in the Premier League, scoring 15 goals as well as setting up a further six to fire Aston Villa to a European berth.
Unai Emery wanted Watkins to stay central rather than running down the channels and allowed Danny Ings to leave for West Ham in January as a show of support and belief. And that move paid rich dividends, as the English forward became the face of Villa’s incredible turnaround, improving as a footballer and taking his finishing prowess to a different level under Emery’s guidance.
The 27-year-old scored 11 league goals in 12 games between January and April, which included him becoming the first Villa player ever to score in five successive league games while also netting in a record six consecutive matches on the road.
#John McGinn
Emery chose to build the midfield around John McGinn, whose performances were hot and cold under Gerrard. The plan worked well as McGinn got his confidence back and delivered some inspiring performances for his side.
Industrious and tenacious, the stocky Scotsman operated in a variety of roles across the midfield and made it difficult for the opposition to maintain any rhythm against Aston Villa. In addition, McGinn’s leadership played a crucial role in the club’s successful season.
#Jacob Ramsey
Jacob Ramsey has gone from strength to strength under Emery, bringing maturity and decisiveness to his game. He was pushed higher up the pitch by the Spanish tactician and Ramsey repaid the faith by scoring in Villa’s four different league wins.
The 22-year-old midfielder became a vital member of Emery’s side and enjoyed a strong 2022/23 Premier League season, where he had 13 goal contributions (six goals and seven assists). Those assists are a clear indicator of Ramsey bringing creativity to his game and becoming incisive in the final third. He ended the season by supplying the two assists for both goals in Villa’s 2-1 success over Brighton on the final day.
