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Football Weekly Are Aston Villa genuine title contenders? – Football Weekly podcast
Dec 29, 2025
The hosts analyze Aston Villa's impressive comeback win against Chelsea, highlighting tactical brilliance and key substitutions. They debate whether Villa can maintain their title challenge, showcasing their resilience and determination. Discussions also touch on Jadon Sancho's impactful bench role and Arsenal's tight win amid injury woes. Meanwhile, Chelsea's unpredictable performance under Maresca raises eyebrows, and Man City's clinical play is praised. Insights into managerial styles add depth to the conversation.
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Emery's Tactical Tweaks Flip Games
- Aston Villa often underperformed early but Emery's in-game changes (Watkins, Anana, Sancho) consistently flipped matches in their favour.
- Their resilience and ability to win from losing positions make them a genuine contender despite XG suggesting otherwise.
Reporter Recalls Villa's First-Half Struggle
- Jacob Steinberg watched Villa struggle in the first half with an XG of zero before Emery's changes turned the game.
- He noted Watkins and Sancho provided immediate impact after coming off the bench.
Use Pace Substitutes To Stretch Defences
- Make proactive substitutions when a system stalls to introduce pace and directness.
- Deploy Watkins and Anana to stretch defences and create high-value chances late in matches.