Definition of a comeback - Unai Emery's Aston Villa

Unai Emery has won the UEFA Europa League four times - thrice with Sevilla and once with Villarreal - and that achievement speaks volumes. However, to accomplish something like that in a knockout-style competition, your squad has to be mentally prepared for the toughest challenges.

He only failed with Arsenal - to be honest, the Gunners have never been an example of a psychologically strong team - and Paris Saint-Germain, whose ultimate goal, the UEFA Champions League trophy, would remain an empty wish until another Spaniard finally fulfilled it almost a decade later.

FALSE 10: Good ebening, Mr Brad Pitt

Either way, resilience and inner strength have always been trademarks of Emery's crews. However, what he's been doing with Aston Villa lately is difficult to comprehend, even by his own standards.

Eleven wins in a row, third place in the Premier League, and a well-deserved status of a title contender?! That's something the fans in Birmingham haven't seen in decades and even a whole century!

They last won the England top flight's crown back in 1981, while such a winning run hasn't been witnessed at Villa Park since 1897 and 1914!

But let's get back to that hardiness, perseverance, and grit of this group of Emery's warriors.

We're talking about a team that's been winless for six games at the beginning of the season (five in EPL and one in the EFL Cup), and that was the last to score among all clubs in England's top seven tiers!

It took them 403 minutes to find the net in general, and 427 minutes to do it in the Premier League! And now, they are third.

They came from behind six times this season in the league - against Brighton, they were two goals down after only 29 minutes - and broke Arsenal's three-month unbeaten run with a dying-minutes goal! That's not a coincidence.

Villa's stunning Stamford Bridge comeback as Watkins fires Emery's men to 11 straight wins

The last time they showed toughness was last night against Chelsea, when they were on the ropes throughout the match, only to make a phoenix-like rise carried by the magnificent Ollie Watkins and his brace, and crush Enzo Maresca's crew in the end.

And now, the EPL leading position is just three points away. In two days, they'll have a chance to close that gap by beating Arsenal at the Emirates.

A difficult challenge? Go ahead and bet against Villa. Emery and his lads dare you.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 18

Friday

Manchester United - Newcastle 1-0 (1-0)

/Dorgu 24/

Saturday

Nottingham Forest - Manchester City 1-2 (0-0)

/Hutchinson 54 - Reijnders 48, Cherki 83/

Arsenal - Brighton 2-1 (1-0)

/Odegaard 14, Rutter 55 og - Gomez 64/

Brentford - Bournemouth 4-1 (2-0)

/Schade 7, 51, 90+6, Petrovic 39 og - Semenyo 75/

Burnley - Everton 0-0

Liverpool - Wolverhampton 2-1 (2-0)

/Gravenberch 41, Wirtz 42 - Bueno 51/

West Ham - Fulham 0-1 (0-0)

/Jimenez 85/

Chelsea - Aston Villa 1-2 (1-0)

/Pedro 37 - Watkins 63, 84/

Sunday

17.00: (2.60) Sunderland (3.15) Leeds (2.85)

19.30: (2.35) Crystal Palace (3.35) Tottenham (3.05)

***odds are subject to change***