Aston Villa began the new year with a statement performance at Villa Park, defeating Nottingham Forest 3-1 on Saturday afternoon.
The victory propelled Unai Emery’s side to second place in the Premier League table, leapfrogging Manchester City and moving within three points of league leaders Arsenal. The win also marked a historic milestone for the club, as they equalled a 1990 record of 11 consecutive home victories.
Okay News reports that Villa dominated the encounter from the outset, maintaining a staggering 74.1% possession and completing a season-high 620 passes.
Ollie Watkins set the tone by drilling a powerful effort into the top of the net to open the scoring, while captain John McGinn secured the result with a clinical brace. Nottingham Forest briefly found hope when Morgan Gibbs-White dinked a clever finish past Emi Martinez, but the visitors were ultimately outclassed by a relentless Villa side.
The defeat further compounds Forest’s historical struggles at the ground, where they have failed to secure a win since 1994. While the travelling fans expressed frustration at the team’s lack of clinical finishing, Villa supporters celebrated a result that keeps them firmly in the title race. Unai Emery’s men now sit on the shoulders of Arsenal as the second half of the 2025/26 season intensifies.
The Premier League action continues throughout the day, with Brighton hosting Burnley and Wolves facing West Ham. In the evening’s marquee matchup, league leaders Arsenal will travel to face Bournemouth, where they will look to restore their six-point lead following Villa’s victory.
