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It has been a year and a half since Newcastle United was taken over by a Saudi Arabia-backed board, freeing them from the ownership of Mike Ashley. One of the first steps taken by the new board was to appoint a new manager to lead the Magpies back to glory, and they chose Unai Emery, the former Arsenal manager.
At the time, Newcastle was struggling to avoid relegation and had a strong but misused roster of players. Six of the players that recently scored five goals against West Ham were already in Tyneside when Eddie Howe arrived, and Emery found better and more productive players in Tyrone Mings rather than making any big signings.
Now, Newcastle find themselves in the top half of the Premier League, trying to clinch a top-four finish, while Aston Villa, who also hired Emery, are trying to make it to the top six in the league.
As the two teams face each other this weekend, it is clear that both are in a much better position than they were a year and a half ago when they appointed their respective managers. While neither team may end up in the Big Six this season, they both have a chance to make their mark on the league and qualify for continental competitions.
Newcastle will have to face Aston Villa without some key players due to injuries, including Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron. However, Jacob Murphy’s strong form may help to fill the gaps left by these injuries.
There is also speculation about whether Isak and Wilson will start together, with the possibility of removing one midfielder from the team. However, given Aston Villa’s strong form, it is unlikely that Howe will make any drastic changes.
In the end, both Newcastle and Aston Villa have made significant progress since appointing Emery and Howe, respectively. Although they may not be in the running for the Big Six this season, their current positions in the league and chances of qualifying for continental competitions show that they are heading in the right direction.
The match between Newcastle and Aston Villa is sure to be an exciting one, with both teams eager to continue their recent winning streaks and make a statement in the league. Regardless of the outcome, both teams have much to be proud of and can continue to build on their recent success.
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