Unai Emery, the meticulous manager of Aston Villa, could not contain his delight following his team's significant 2-0 Premier League victory away at Newcastle United on Sunday. The win marked a historic moment for the club, breaking a long-standing curse at St. James' Park that had persisted for over two decades.
Ending the St. James' Park Hoodoo
For 21 years, Aston Villa supporters travelling to Tyneside had grown accustomed to disappointment, enduring a barren run of 17 consecutive matches without a victory against Newcastle United. That painful streak, dating back to 2005, was finally shattered in emphatic fashion. While Ollie Watkins sealed the points with a late header from a Lucas Digne cross, it was the performance of the opening goalscorer, Emiliano Buendia, that truly captured the imagination and earned the manager's highest acclaim.
Buendia's Remarkable Resurgence
Emiliano Buendia's journey at Villa Park has been one of dramatic revival. After a mediocre loan spell at Bayer 04 Leverkusen last season, his future at the club appeared uncertain, with a potential sale looming. However, the Argentine playmaker has emphatically turned his fortunes around this campaign, overcoming serious knee injuries, spells out of the matchday squad, and the challenge of proving himself to a demanding manager like Emery.
"Emiliano Buendia's commitment is massive," Emery stated passionately in his post-match press conference. "He is playing angry to get his best, to compete with the wish of me being proud of him. And I am."
Buendia has become a pivotal figure, starting each of Villa's last four matches across all competitions and featuring regularly throughout October, November, and December. His stunning 25-yard strike to open the scoring at Newcastle followed a similarly spectacular goal in the FA Cup away at Tottenham Hotspur, showcasing a player reborn with confidence and quality.
A Collective 'Fantastic' Effort
While Buendia received individual praise, Emery was quick to highlight the collective effort of his squad, repeatedly using his favourite adjective to describe their performance. "Emi Martinez fantastic, centre-backs fantastic, full-backs fantastic," he enthused. "Amadou (Onana) fantastic in how he fought today. Ollie Watkins, how he fought against the centre-backs... wow... fantastic. (Jadon) Sancho, (Leon) Bailey, fantastic."
The victory not only ended Villa's specific struggles in Newcastle but also secured three crucial points in the Premier League title race. Although Emery maintains his team are not contenders, the result closed the gap to leaders Arsenal to just four points, following Manchester United's win at the Emirates Stadium, inevitably fuelling dreams among the Villa faithful.
Looking Ahead with Humility
Despite the growing excitement, Unai Emery remains characteristically grounded. The Spaniard insists on taking the season one game at a time, focusing on maintaining consistency and performance levels. If Aston Villa can sustain this form and remain in contention as the season reaches its critical latter stages, perhaps even the pragmatic Emery will allow himself to dream. For now, the focus is on building from this historic victory, with the revitalised Emiliano Buendia symbolising the team's renewed spirit and determination.
