What Can Aston Villa Realistically Achieve This Season?

Since Unai Emery’s appointment as Aston Villa manager in October 2022, only Arsenal and Manchester City have won more points in the Premier League than the Spaniard’s team. While Emery took over a side that was fighting the threat of relegation at the time, Villa is now considered one of English soccer’s strongest outfits.

This summer, however, has been one of fundamental change at Villa Park. Youri Tielemans left to join Manchester United with Chelsea moving to land Morgan Rogers for a fee of $157m, making the attacking midfielder the most expensive English player in Premier League history.

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LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 15: Morgan Rogers of Chelsea during the pre-season friendly match between Chelsea and Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on August 15, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Lucas Digne left to sign for Paris Saint-Germain with Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins potentially on their way out of Villa Park as well. This summer has been Aston Villa’s most challenging in the four years since Emery took over. The club’s squad now is very different to the one that finished the 2025/26 season.

Villa has been active in terms of signing new players. Johan Mazambi has arrived from Freiburg after catching the eye for Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup. The money raised from the sale of Tielemans was reinvested in the signing of Joao Gomes from Wolves. The Brazilian has settled in quickly over the pre-season period.

Alejandro Garnacho has joined on loan from Chelsea. The Argentinean winger struggled to make much of an impact at Stamford Bridge last season and has now made the move to Villa Park in the same way Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho did after being chewed up and spat out by Manchester United.

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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JULY 17: Johan Manzambi of Aston Villa poses for a picture at Bodymoor Heath training ground on July 17, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)

This season could be the biggest test of Emery’s tenure as Aston Villa manager to date. The Spaniard has shaped the club around him over the last four years and now Villa is counting on him to keep them pointed in the right direction even as its squad has changed beyond all recognition this summer.

The Premier League table looks wide open. There are nine new managers in the English top division ahead of the 2026/27 season. Aston Villa kept hold of its manager over the summer, but the level of squad turnover means there is a question mark over what Emery’s team can realistically achieve this term.

Nonetheless, Emery’s success over the last four years suggests Aston Villa supporters have nothing to worry about. Villa will play in the Champions League once again this season with Emery and co. capable of making a profound impact on the Premier League table. Villa is right to have faith in Emery.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com