Shaka Hislop has suggested that one Aston Villa man is not getting enough credit after watching the side beat Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Hislop was speaking to ESPN after goals from Pau Torres and Ollie Watkins handed Villa a big three points to lift them into the top-four and within touching distance of the Premier League summit.
Aston Villa rode their luck at times against Spurs. But Unai Emery‘s men were clinical when they needed to be. And they made a real statement.
Unai Emery deserves more credit after Aston Villa win
It is remarkable to think Emery has been at the club for just over 13 months. When Aston Villa appointed the Spaniard, the club looked to be in danger of being involved in a relegation battle.
The Villans have been on the rise ever since. And they could potentially go top of the table should they beat Bournemouth next Sunday.
Some will feel that Emery is the manager of the season so far. However, Shaka Hislop still thinks that his achievements are going somewhat under the radar as he reacted to Villa’s hard-fought win over Tottenham on Sunday.
“Very, very impressive especially when you consider the resources, or lack of, when you compare what Villa are willing to spend compared to the rest of the top four. And not just in terms of getting results, and while yes, ultimately, you’re judged by points on the table, but the football that Villa’s playing, really is outstanding,” he told ESPN.
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“The progress of Ollie Watkins as a striker, again, I think you put that down to the coach. And to answer your question, no, I don’t think he’s getting enough credit. And maybe that is to do with his time at Arsenal where I think people still look back on that and it could’ve been better. That being said, if you’re a Villa fan, if you’re Unai Emery, that’s a long, long way in the rearview mirror.”
Villans still yet to discover their ceiling
The Villa hierarchy have been building to this moment almost ever since they arrived at the club while they were in the Championship. There have been some bumps along the way, with one final day escape required.
But Villa are absolutely flying. And it is remarkable how quickly they have progressed since Emery was appointed.
What will be particularly exciting for Aston Villa fans is that it is not yet clear where their ceiling will prove to be.
Given Emery has won so much during his managerial career, he will see no reason why they cannot pick up some silverware during his time in charge.