Just under three months ago, Aston Villa were without a victory and sitting third bottom of the Premier League.
Now, however, driven by manager Unai Emery, they hold a top-three spot with growing talk about their potential role in the championship chase.
The weekend's dramatic conclusion against table-toppers Arsenal underscored their capabilities, with the 2-1 victory representing Emery's 63rd Premier League win – the most in the team's history.
From his 162 games in charge, Emery boasts a success rate of 54.94%.
Additionally, in the current campaign, only Arsenal and Manchester City have gathered more points (71) than Villa's total of 67 from 34 fixtures.
This transformation is especially remarkable given the team's beginning to the campaign, which saw them in the bottom three, eliminated of the Carabao Cup, and the final team in the Football League to net a goal.
Doubts were raised about Emery's methods after a close-season where spending power was restricted by financial rules.
What exactly has Emery altered to spark this revival? The simple answer is nothing.
The workaholic Spaniard has displayed the courage to adhere to his beliefs and guide his team through initial difficulties.
It was clear that the club was lacking energy, not just in terms of results. The meteoric rise under Emery in previous years had heightened hopes immensely.
Exhaustion from their journey to the Champions League quarter-finals appeared widespread, impacting both the supporters and the pitch.
"I am not thinking about it [the title]," Emery said after the impressive success over Arsenal. "I know 38 matches is incredibly tough. We are not considered a challenger."
Emery regards the training ground at Bodymoor Heath as a fortress, with a high level of concentration required from everyone.
He has not wavered, even as star striker Ollie Watkins had difficulties for goals early on.
The degree of influence he enjoys at Villa Park is significant – a situation he did not have during his tenures at Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain.
This environment has enabled his meticulous processes, from drills to video analysis, to stay consistent and ultimately bear fruit.
Having stuck to his principles, the results are now evident.
Villa have won nine of their last ten Premier League matches.
A analysis at their last five top-flight fixtures shows significant improvements:
Although it took Villa time to get going, Unai Emery has proved to be their greatest weapon and spearheaded their charge in truly impressive style.
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