'Things are looking good'

It was something of a ‘put up or shut up’ week for Aston Villa, during which they ultimately took a firm step to achieving their best season since 1995-96, when they finished fourth and won a trophy.

After a pivotal win at Arsenal, a nerve-shredding passage into the Europa Conference League semi-finals and a return to controlled three-point performances at Villa Park, their destiny is very much in their hands.

Tottenham, their rivals for the last Champions League spot, have a lot to do.

Despite Villa having a two-legged European semi-final to play in May, Spurs have two Premier League games in hand and overall have the same number of matches to play before the end of the league season.

Spurs will also not be too thrilled that they still have to play the three title contenders in their remaining six games.

While injuries and player fatigue were being highlighted by some sections of the Villa fanbase, boss Unai Emery has avoided excuses, preferring publicly to downplay expectations, while within the squad not giving up on what could be achieved this season.

There have been silver linings to Villa’s problems that have helped too.

Since arriving in January, the impressive Morgan Rogers has gone a long way to filing a Jacob Ramsey-sized hole, while the recent suspensions of John McGinn and Douglas Luiz have arguably given two key members of the midfield a beneficial rest at a key time of the season.

The Villa manager is one of the game's best and is 100% aiming to be playing Champions League football next season, and to add the Europa Conference League to his European trophy haul.

As it stands, things are looking good.

David Michael can be found at My Old Man Said