Jack Grealish crashed to his knees on Tuesday night, as Aston Villa pulled off a remarkable victory over an in-form Arsenal. It carried huge importance.
A determined, dogged and resilient display. Three points taken from the Gunners has lifted Villa level with Watford as we enter the final weekend of the Premier League season, with a superior goal difference.
Grealish and his team-mates felt a wave of relief crash over them, though the job is yet to be completed. Villa now have destiny in their own hands as we enter the concluding fixture, needing a result against West Ham as Watford face Arsenal.
It’s a tale of endurance and unwavering belief, as one of the English football’s iconic clubs battle to retain its top flight status.
Sportsmail takes a look back at how Villa have quietly gone about their business while those around them lost their heads.
Dean Smith’s Aston Villa are on the brink of pulling off a special escape, with one match to play
Picking up the points
While fellow relegation-stricken sides have gone through periods of panic, Villa have stuck to the task in hand without getting deterred.
Football’s re-start served up some gruelling fixtures for the Villans, with games against each of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United in quick succession.
Zero points were yielded from these ties, yet Villa did not allow this to smash the camp’s confidence.
Trezeguet’s stunning volley against Arsenal was the latest example of Villa grinding out points
Instead, focus has been channeled into matches in which the Midlands club really ought to be getting something from.
Villa took an important point from Chris Wilder’s high-flying Sheffield United, before going on to add points from Newcastle and Everton and maximum spoils against Crystal Palace.
It has been a case of playing the long game for Villa, but they have continued to accrue a margin while Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth stacked up a run of defeats following a demoralising return from football’s postponement.
Watford have hit the panic button and taken the shock decision to fire Nigel Pearson with matches left to play, while Norwich City have already been relegated.
Winning the Grealish battle
Cut him open and the Aston Villa captain bleeds claret and blue.
Regardless of this, however, it is no secret that Grealish is very much a man in demand.
He played an hugely influential role in getting Villa promoted to the Premier League, and has been their knight in shining armour this season by providing the goods.
Villa had to fend off potential suitors for Grealish during the January window, which appears to be a masterstroke as the local lad looks set to keep his boyhood club afloat.
Jack Grealish gives his all to Villa and manager Dean Smith, despite looking set to soon leave
Turning 25 in September, Grealish will almost inevitably move on this summer to take the next step in his career. Yet he has been Villa’s most influential player this season and the club did well to dig their heels.
With eight league goals and seven assists, Grealish has repaid Villa handsomely. The man himself admitted, following the win over Arsenal, that he does not feel as though he has been at his best since football’s return – or at his fittest.
Yet Villa have done well to cope, spreading the workload more evenly around the team and seeing players like Trezeguet and Conor Hourihane come into their own as a result.
The return of John McGinn
It cannot be understated how important the Scotland international is to this Villa side.
McGinn’s injury in December spelled terrifying news for the club. With an ankle fracture confirmed, the midfield talisman looks set to miss the vast majority of the remaining campaign.
Football’s postponement, due to the coronavirus pandemic, therefore could not have come at a better time for both McGinn and Villa.
John McGinn’s return has been crucial for Villa and a driving factor behind their success
Stepping up his rehab to return to the fray, McGinn has hardly skipped a beat since his return.
In his 27 appearances this term McGinn has three goals and two assists. Yet it is his overall game which has won plaudits this season.
The Scotsman patrols midfield, harrying opponents and making vital recoveries of possession. It is McGinn’s approach which allows Grealish the freedom to locate pockets of space and make things happen.
The 25-year-old’s ability to run with the ball and create openings of his own has been such a virtue to Villa this season, and will be a pivotal reason why – if they complete the escape mission – that the club retain their Premier League status.
Tightening the defence
In their last five games Villa have conceded six goals, though five of those came in fixtures against champions Liverpool and a resurgent Manchester United. Neither of which Villa were expected to triumph.
But in the other, more decisive clashes of their relegation run-in, Villa have held firm.
Veteran stopper Pepe Reina has recaptured an element of his former self in goal, while Tyrone Mings has acted like a rock at the centre of defence.
‘We’ve been much better defensively over these eight games,’ Dean Smith told the Sky Sports cameras following the Arsenal victory.
Tyrone Mings is now shepherds the Villa back line with the defence tightening up by the week
‘We wanted to be better and the players were engaged with the video sessions we did [during lockdown].
‘We needed this. We’ve got to go and do the same against West Ham on Sunday.’
A clean sheet will likely be enough for the Villans, baring the now managerless Watford defying all the odds and inflicting a huge defeat upon Arsenal.
It’s been a long and winding road for the Midlands club yet Smith and his men appear to be on the brink of something special.
Slow and steady looks to have won the race for Villa, but now they must finish off the job.