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Might this season be Aston Villa's moment?

Nine consecutive victories in every tournament - approaching the record of 11 established in 1897 - have catapulted Unai Emery's side into title contention.

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

They welcome Manchester United on Sunday before visiting Chelsea and facing leaders Arsenal to end the calendar year - three games which could determine their role in the title race.

Villa have not won a major trophy since securing the League Cup in 1996 but, occupying third place in both the Premier League and Europa League, their trophy famine could be broken in spectacular style.

Emery's Cautious Approach

Unai Emery is not giving in to any outside pressure to announce Villa are fighting for the championship.

However, the stats paint a clear picture, as their only Premier League defeat since August came against Liverpool in October, and from that point Villa have strung together six top-flight games.

Last Sunday's come-from-behind 3-2 victory over West Ham epitomised the strength of his side and the winning feeling 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 be at ease doing it."

Emery has been deliberate to avoid putting any unnecessary focus on his Villa players. After all, they are attracting plenty of plaudits through their excellent results.

Transformation from Struggles to Success

That present run is in complete contrast to a start of the season in which they were winless after their six opening games, which included a Carabao Cup loss to Brentford, and did not even register a league goal until a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on 21 September.

The squad conducted a discussion to review their poor opening and discuss how to regain their form. There was a understanding there had been a hangover from failing to qualify for 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.

From that point at the Stadium of Light they have won 15 of their 17 games, including beating Manchester City 1-0 and this month's nail-biting 2-1 triumph over Arsenal.

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

Building on Experience

"The last year is an blueprint and it's an experience 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 highly motivated, but [also] more demanding than when I started. My objective has many aspects to improve."

A Trophy Drought

The most recent occasion Villa claimed a significant honour - beating Leeds 3-0 in the League Cup - feels like a bygone age.

It has been a protracted drought since, with Villa being defeated in two FA Cup finals and two League Cup finals in the interim.

Emery, a UEFA Europa League champion with Sevilla and Villarreal, stated on his first day in charge that the main goal was to lift a cup. Last season's FA Cup semi-final defeat remains painful.

A Europa Conference League semi-final defeat 18 months ago and a thrilling Champions League quarter-final exit last April demonstrate their progress.

"Every time we go into a huge fixture now, we have that resolve in the back of our heads to demonstrate this team we have developed 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 sense it this year."

The decisive run begins now, with Villa poised to discover if they are fated to become kings or merely kingmakers in the title race.