The new year is almost upon as…
As we prepare to welcome in 2023 with a New Year’s Day trip to north London to face Tottenham Hotspur, we take a look back at Villa’s 2022 and how the year unfolded for the men's first team.
JANUARY
After taking the lead through Danny Ings, Villa’s first game of 2022 ends in a 2-1 defeat at Brentford, and there’s further disappointment in the FA Cup as Steven Gerrard’s men make their exit in a 1-0 defeat at Manchester United.
Former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho joins Villa on loan from Barcelona, while France international Lucas Digne makes a permanent move from Everton.
The new boys make their debuts in a 2-2 Premier League draw at home to Manchester United. Villa trail 2-0 before Jacob Ramsey reduces the deficit and then sets up sub Coutinho for a dramatic late equaliser. A week later, an Emi Buendía header clinches a 1-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park
Emi Martínez commits his long-term future to the club, the 29-year-old Argentine keeper signing a contract which takes him up to 2027. Defender Kortney Hause signs a contract extension to 2025.
Versatile defender Calum Chambers arrives from Arsenal on a three-and-a-half-year contract, while Sweden international goalkeeper Robin Olsen signs on loan from AS Roma.
Matt Target, Keinan Davis, Anwar El Ghazi, Jed Steer, Cameron Archer and Jaden Philogene link up with Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Everton, Luton Town, Preston North End and Stoke City respectively on loan deals until the end of the season
Brazilian striker Wesley returns to his homeland to sign for Internacional on a 12-month loan agreement.
FEBRUARY
Philippe Coutinho scores for the second consecutive home match and then sets up two goals for Jacob Ramsey to establish a 3-1 lead against Leeds United, only for the visitors to hit back for a 3-3 draw.
A disappointing afternoon at St James’ Park results in a 1-0 setback at the hands of Newcastle United, and there’s further frustration the following weekend as struggling Watford win by the same scoreline at Villa Park.
Villa are back to winning ways as goals from Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins secure a 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.
Trézéguet joins Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir FK on loan until the end of the season.
MARCH
A superb performance is rewarded with Villa’s biggest win of the season, a 4-0 home success against Southampton. Ollie Watkins opens the scoring, with Douglas Luiz and Philippe Coutinho also on target before Danny Ings scores against his former club.
That’s followed by an emphatic 3-0 win against Leeds United at Elland Road, where Calum Chambers scores his first goal for the club. Coutinho and Matty Cash are also on target.
After three straight wins, Jacob Ramsey’s late goal fails to prevent a 2-1 defeat at West Ham United, and there’s another setback as a 30th-minute Bukayo Saka goal gives Arsenal a 1-0 verdict at Villa Park.
The club mourn the passing of two former players. Gordon Lee dies at the age of 87, while Andy Lochhead passes away at the age of 81.
APRIL
A spirited late rally is not enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat to Wolves at Molineux, Ollie Watkins providing the only consolation with an 86th-minute penalty.
The misery continues as Villa lose 4-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur despite dominating the first half, but a run of four straight defeats comes to an end with a goalless draw away to Leicester City.
After taking only one point from the previous five games, Villa return to winning ways as goals from Watkins and Danny Ings secure a 2-0 home win over Norwich City. Former head coach Dean Smith receives a warm welcome on his return to Villa Park, but the result condemns the Canaries to relegation.
MAY
Ollie Watkins scores his 10th goal of the season in a 3-1 win at Burnley to become the first Villa player since Christian Benteke to reach double figures in consecutive campaigns. Danny Ings and Emi Buendía are also on target at Turf Moor.
An early Douglas Luiz goal isn’t enough to prevent a 2-1 home defeat by title challengers Liverpool, while Villa have to settle for a 1-1 home draw against Crystal Palace after going ahead through Watkins.
There’s a carnival atmosphere on the day of the Palace game as members of Villa’s 1982 European Cup squad are paraded on the pitch to celebrate the upcoming 40th anniversary of their triumph in Rotterdam.
Villa announce the permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona for an undisclosed fee.
Buendía’s volley just after half-time earns a second consecutive 1-1 home draw, this time against Burnley in a match which had been postponed before Christmas due to Covid-19.
The final home match of 2021/22 ends in a 1-1 draw against Burnley, with Buendía netting Villa’s goal, while Villa sign off with a 3-2 defeat at champions Manchester City after going two-up through Matty Cash and Coutinho.
Villa make their second summer signing, snapping up French midfielder Boubacar Kamara from Olympique Marseille, before announcing they have reached agreement with Sevilla for the transfer of Brazil central defender Diego Carlos.
JUNE
Assistant head coach Michael Beale leaves Villa to become manager of QPR and is replaced almost immediately by Blackpool manager Neil Critchley.
Goalkeeper Robin Olsen, on loan from AS Roma since January, makes a permanent move to Villa Park.
Left-back Matt Targett, on loan to Newcastle United since January, makes a permanent move to St James’ Park, while midfielder Conor Hourihane, who helped Villa to promotion in 2019, is released.
JULY
Villa make their first-ever visit to Australia on a pre-season tour, beating Leeds United 1-0 and Brisbane Roar by the same score before drawing 2-2 with Manchester United in the final game.
Ashley Young signs a one-year contract extension, while Villa complete the loan signing of Sweden left-back Ludwig Augustinsson from Spanish club Sevilla.
Trézéguet departs the club and completes a permanent transfer to Trabzonspor.
Croatian goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic joins Hajduk Split on a permanent basis, while Wesley and Jaden Philogene join Levante UD and Cardiff City respectively on season-long loans.
AUGUST
The Premier League campaign gets under way with a 2-0 defeat to newly-promoted AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium
Carney Chukwuemeka joins Chelsea and Anwar El Ghazi moves to Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.
Cameron Archer signs a contract extension which secures his Villa future for the next five years. Kortney Hause and Keinan Davis join Watford on loan for the season, while Bertrand Traoré moves to Turkish outfit Istanbul Basaksehir FK on the same arrangement.
Danny Ings and substitute Emi Buendía are on target as Villa kick off their home programme with a 2-1 success against Everton. But Diego Carlos suffers a ruptured Achilles tendon and is told it will require surgery.
Despite an early goal from Ollie Watkins – his first of the season – Villa slip to a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. That’s followed by setbacks at home to West Ham United and Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, where Douglas Luiz scores direct from a corner for the second time in nine days.
The midfielder had previously done it in a 4-1 Carabao Cup win at Bolton, with Danny Ings, Lucas Digne and Leon Bailey also on target.
SEPTEMBER
Leander Dendoncker joins Villa from Wolves on transfer deadline day, with Jan Bednarek arriving on a season-long loan from Southampton.
Talented youngster Tim Iroegbunam joins Queens Park Rangers on a season-long loan.
Leon Bailey’s superb equaliser earns a 1-1 draw against title favourites Manchester City at Villa Park, and after the game at Leicester City is postponed following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II, Villa secure their second Premier League win of the season. Jacob Ramsey’s 41st-minute goal clinches a 1-0 home success over Southampton.
OCTOBER
A goalless encounter against Leeds United at Elland Road is followed by another away draw, Ashley Young scoring his first goal since returning to the club to earn a point as Villa draw 1-1 with Nottingham Forest at The City Ground.
Despite creating a succession of first-half chances, Villa are denied time after time by keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga as they slip to a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of in-form Chelsea.
A 3-0 defeat by Fulham at Craven Cottage prompts the dismissal of Steven Gerrard as head coach after 11 months. Three days later, with caretaker boss Aaron Danks in charge, Villa produce their best performance of the season so far to beat Brentford 4-0. Leon Bailey opens the scoring, Danny Ings adds two more, including a penalty, and Ollie Watkins completes an emphatic victory.
The club announce the appointment of Unai Emery as head coach with effect from November 1, but the month ends on a low, a 4-0 defeat by Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
NOVEMBER
Unai Emery makes the perfect start as head coach, Villa beating Manchester United 3-1 – our first home win over the Red Devils since August 1995. Leon Bailey opens the scoring, Lucas Digne adds No.2 direct from a free-kick and Jacob Ramsey adds a third early in the second half after United reduce the deficit just before half-time.
Four days later, United take their revenge with a 4-2 Carabao Cup win at Old Trafford after Villa lead twice through Ollie Watkins and a Diogo Dalot own goal.
In the final match before the World Cup finals, Villa beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 at the Amex Stadium. Danny Ings hits both goals, including a penalty.
Jacob Ramsey scores as we lose 3-1 at Cardiff City in a memorial match for former midfielder Peter Whittingham, who died at the age of 35 in March 2020.
DECEMBER
At the World Cup in Qatar, Villa are represented by Leander Dendoncker, Matty Cash, Jan Bednarek and Emi Martínez.
Dendoncker’s Belgium sadly fail to qualify from their group, while Matty Cash and Jan Bednarek progress to the Round of 16 with Poland before losing out to France.
Martínez helps Argentina to victory over Australia in the Last 16 and is the hero of their quarter-final tie, saving two spot-kicks in the shoot-out against the Netherlands.
Following a 3-0 semi-final victory over Croatia, Martínez makes club history by becoming the first serving Aston Villa player to reach the final and also to lift the famous trophy.
His heroics help La Albiceleste edge past France in a penalty shoot-out following a thrilling 3-3 draw in Doha.
Out in the Middle East, Danny Ings scores twice in a 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion in a friendly in Dubai, while John McGinn’s goal secures a 1-0 win against Chelsea in Abu Dhabi.
Back on home soil, Villa slip to a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Unai Emery’s former club Villarreal before facing Everton in their final mid-season fixture at Goodison Park.
Premier League action resumes on Boxing Day but Villa fall to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool in their final fixture of 2022.
