Aston Villa have enjoyed a memorable 2023 which has left supporters all over the world excited at what 2024 will bring.
The last 12 months has seen a year of flying high under Unai Emery, THAT club-record run of home wins in the Premier League and the return of European nights to Villa Park!
Join us for a review of the year as we take a look back at the last 12 months for the men's first team in a three-part series...
JANUARY
Happy New Year! Villa make a flying start to 2023 by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 away with second-half goals from Emi Buendía and Douglas Luiz.
Sub Danny Ings earned a point with a late equaliser in a 1-1 home draw against Wolves after the visitors led at the interval.
Morgan Sanson scores his first goal for the club but our third-round FA Cup tie against Stevenage ends in a 2-1 defeat. It’s the seventh consecutive year that we've gone out at this stage.
Emery’s side bounce back with a 2-1 home win over Leeds United, courtesy of goals from Leon Bailey and Buendía, before Ollie Watkins' header secures a 1-0 win at Southampton.
On the transfer front, Villa sign left-back Álex Moreno from Spanish club Real Betis, while Colombian striker Jhon Durán arrives from MLS club Chicago Fire and Bertrand Traoré is recalled from his loan spell with Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir.
FEBRUARY
Leading 2-1 at home to Leicester City thanks to Watkins and a Harry Souttar own goal, Villa slump to a surprise 4-2 defeat.
Watkins marks his 100th Villa appearance by scoring for the third consecutive match, but it’s not enough to prevent a 3-1 setback at the hands of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Another Watkins goal, plus a first of the season for Philippe Coutinho, enable Villa to lead twice at home to Arsenal before the Gunners hit back to win 4-2. The match is attended by Hollywood legend Tom Hanks.
Yet another Watkins goal, this time from the penalty spot against Everton, makes him the first Villa player to score in five consecutive Premier League games. Buendía’s powerful strike completes a 2-0 victory at Goodison Park
Tyrone Mings signs a contract extension, declaring: “I hope that everything Villa fans want to see from the club we can deliver. That hasn’t changed from the moment I walked in.”
MARCH
Joachim Andersen's own goal is enough to secure a 1-0 home victory over Cystal Palace in a match attended by former Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel.
Watkins scores his sixth goal in seven games – and his fourth consecutive away goal – as Villa draw 1-1 against West Ham United at London Stadium.
Goals from Luiz, Jacob Ramsey and Buendía secure a 3-0 win over AFC Bournemouth at Villa Park. It’s the first time Villa have beaten the Cherries at home in the Premier League.
HRH The Prince of Wales pays a visit to the club’s Bodymoor Heath training ground, where he chats to boss Emery, coaching staff and players.
APRIL
Watkins becomes the first Villa player to score in five consecutive away matches, netting the opening goal in a 2-0 win at Chelsea. John McGinn adds the second.
Watkins follows up with another away goal, this time at Leicester City, before substitute Traoré clinches a 2-1 win with a stunning shot from distance.
The same duo are on target again in a 2-0 home win against Nottingham Forest, Traoré opening the scoring after replacing the injured Bailey and Watkins adding a second in stoppage time.
It’s Watkins again, this time with two, as Villa emphatically beat Newcastle United 3-0 at home. Ramsey also on target. That’s five wins in a row, equalling Villa’s best sequence in the Premier League.
A late Luiz goal earns a 1-1 draw at Brentford before Villa’s unbeaten run is extended to 10 games when Mings heads the winner against Fulham at Villa Park. The sequence ends with a 1-0 defeat at Manchester United.
Join us tomorrow for part II of our Year in Review looking back at how Villa fared from May through to August...
