Emery encourages Villa to ‘enjoy each moment’ of winning run

Unai Emery has urged everyone at Aston Villa to enjoy their winning run as he does not know how long it will last.

In all competitions, Villa have won eight successive games; it’s their longest run as a top-flight side since March 1914 (run of 11).

That run has seen them move within three points of league leaders Arsenal, after they beat the Gunners 2-1 last time out, and up to third in the Europa League.

Villa have won nine of their last 10 Premier League matches (L1), winning the most points in the division in that timeframe from September 28 onwards (27).

They are the first team in any of the top four divisions in the history of the Football League to win none of their first five games of a season and then win as many as nine of their next 10.

Emery insisted his side are not feeling any additional pressure, but has rather encouraged them to enjoy their recent success ahead of their trip to West Ham.

“Firstly, we are in good form. Secondly, we were so poor in the start, of course,” said Emery.

“And then, if you are making some questions about our future, I don’t know how we are going to be in the next month.

“But of course, each match, each moment. Enjoy each moment, compete each moment and try to get our best – the players, the club, the coaches, myself.

“We are not feeling under pressure. We are feeling, with our responsibility, each one trying to get his best, very demanding collectively and individually and responding each competition, each moment, like we need, and nothing more.”

West Ham remain in the relegation zone, but the Hammers have seen improvements in performance under Nuno Espirito Santo.

They have lost just once in their last six league games, but three of their last four matches have ended as a draw.

Nuno believes the Hammers are growing as a team, but thinks Jarrod Bowen’s fitness could prove to be the deciding factor for their season.

“I hope [Bowen] can be involved in every minute because what he gives to the team is huge,” said Nuno.

“He leads by example, but if the situation comes [that he gets injured], I have a group of players who I believe can contribute in the aspect of leadership.

“We still haven’t reached the standard we expect. We are creating chances. It is about finding the balance.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

West Ham United – Jarrod Bowen

Bowen has 99 goals and assists combined in the Premier League for West Ham (60 goals, 39 assists) and could be the second player to get to treble figures for the Hammers, after Michail Antonio (68 goals, 33 assists).

The 28-year-old also ended his goal drought after scoring against Brighton last weekend. It was his first goal since a 1-1 draw with Everton on September 29.

Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins

Watkins could make his 200th Premier League appearance in this match.

The Aston Villa striker has 78 goals and 34 assists in 199 games so far, with only 11 English players involved in more goals in their first 200 games, most recently Jamie Vardy (97 goals, 28 assists).

MATCH PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA WIN

Having been winless in nine consecutive away league games against West Ham between August 2012 and March 2024, Villa won this exact fixture 2-1 last season. They last won consecutive visits to the Hammers in December 1996.

Villa were the only side not to score in any of their first four league games this season, but since MD5 only Manchester City (27) have scored more goals than Villa (22), with the Villans enjoying the third-best conversion rate in that time (15.9%), behind Tottenham (17%) and Man City (16.3%).

West Ham are winless in their last five Premier League games against Aston Villa (D3 L2), having won five in a row against them before that.

The Hammers have just 13 points in 15 Premier League games this season (W3 D4 L8), their worst start since 2017-18 when they had 10 points.

However, in their last three campaigns when they have had 13 or fewer points at this stage, they have avoided relegation – 13 in 2013-14 (came 13th), 13 in 2016-17 (11th) and 10 in 2017-18 (13th).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

West Ham – 24%

Draw – 22.7%

Aston Villa – 53.2%