Aston Villa stayed tight in the Premier League title race after a 2-1 comeback win at Chelsea, matching a club record with an 11th straight victory in all competitions. Substitute Ollie Watkins hit both
goals at Stamford Bridge, becoming the second visiting substitute to score twice there this league season.
The result kept Unai Emery's side third in the table, only three points behind leaders Arsenal after an eighth consecutive league success. Villa could also draw level with Arsenal on points if they beat Mikel Arteta's team on Tuesday, adding extra weight to that match at the top.
Watkins explained that the squad is trying to keep talk of the title at a distance, even while form improves. "I feel like teams are worried about us, even if we may not play the prettiest football at times. We're taking each game as it comes and focusing on ourselves, really. There's a lot of talk about us, and people asking if we can win the title, but it's a long way away. We're just focusing on the next game. "
The forward also detailed how Emery altered the shape against Chelsea's pressing and back line. "[Emery] changed it because Chelsea were going man for man, but they had the extra centre-back when we were going long, Watkins told Sky Sports. When I came on in the second half, he brought Jadon Sancho and Morgan Rogers on the wing, and put Youri Tielemans in the number 10 [role],so we had an extra man in there. He's a tactical genius. "
Emery's changes added more width and an extra option between the lines, which helped Villa play through Chelsea's pressure more often. That tweak created better support around Watkins, Sancho, Rogers and Tielemans, and allowed Villa to turn a one-goal deficit into a decisive away victory in West London.
Watkins has enjoyed repeated success at Stamford Bridge. The England striker has now scored in three of his last four league games there against Chelsea, with four goals in that run. Since the start of the 2020-21 season, only Erling Haaland has more away Premier League goals in London than Watkins.
| Player | Away Premier League goals in London (since 2020-21) |
|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | 24 |
| Ollie Watkins | 18 |
Passion. pic.twitter.com/hemjq8YrxvAston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 27, 2025
Emery highlighted how closely Watkins followed instructions in a demanding away fixture. "He was so, so focused, Emery said of the forward.Keeping the game plan like we planned and doing his tasks, he's normally getting his numbers and, today, scoring goals is fantastic. " The comments reflected the importance of both work rate and finishing in Villa's system.
The head coach then turned attention to the meeting with Arsenal, stressing that the title picture remains open. "We are playing against Arsenal, and our mentality is to compete strongly, he added. Of course, we are performing very well, we are winning matches in a row, we are competing fantastically.There are still another 20 matches to play. "
Villa now move into the key clash with Arsenal carrying strong momentum, a long winning streak and increasing belief in Emery's tactical approach. The squad, led in attack by Watkins, is still treating each fixture separately, aware that many matches remain in a demanding Premier League campaign.
