After years of stagnation in the top flight a wave of optimism is sweeping Aston Villa, fuelled by an impressive league start, a change in the boardroom and the arrival Martin O’Neill.
Martin O’Neil team is looking revitalised but against Blues at home they’ll have to be at their sharpest
LONDON: After years of stagnation in the top flight a wave of optimism is sweeping Aston Villa, fuelled by an impressive league start, a change in the boardroom and the arrival of manager Martin O’Neill.
Villa, in fifth place and unbeaten, visit champions Chelsea on Saturday in a match which will test their credentials to challenge for a European place. Six matches into the season the Premier League summit already has a familiar look with champions Chelsea out in front on 15 points, two ahead of Manchester United.
But it is the starts made by Villa and Portsmouth, who are away to struggling Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, that have caught the eye.
O’Neill, who ended his self-imposed 15-month break from football to succeed David O’Leary at Villa Park last month, has already stamped his mark with Villa securing three wins from three at home and three draws on their travels.
O’Neill faces a real test at Stamford Bridge, where Villa have lost on their last four visits, against a Chelsea side who have won four successive league matches without ever hitting top gear.
Chelsea’s morale has been boosted further by their 3-1 Champions League win at Levski Sofia in midweek, with Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba scoring a hat-trick. After four successive wins to start the season second-placed Manchester United, who welcome Newcastle United to Old Trafford on Sunday, have suffered a home defeat by Arsenal followed by a draw with Reading.
England striker Wayne Rooney has not scored in four games since returning from a three-match ban but team mate Louis Saha, who scored United’s winner in the 1-0 Champions League success over Benfica on Tuesday, has looked sharp.
“I look at Wayne in the same way as I look at Thierry Henry,” Saha said. “If he is not scoring or providing two or three assists in a game everyone thinks he is playing badly. He creates massive problems for every defender who plays against him.
“We all know the quality he has and the impact he can have on a game when he is on form.”
In other Saturday games, resurgent Arsenal travel south of the river for a London derby with Charlton Athletic while fourth-placed Everton take on Manchester City at Goodison Park.
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