Well, since I and I Emery took charge in November,

Aston Villa have gone from 16th to 6th in the Premier League.

On beating in their last eight, they've won five on the spin.

So coming up, we'll hear how Emery has done it,

how he always seems to find a way to start so well whenever he's in charge,

and what Villa can expect to happen next.

I'm Mark Chapman.

This is the Athletic Football Podcast.

At the beginning, to escape off the bottom. It was very difficult, but we did it.

And now we are realistic objective is to try to get a top six position

and of course try to play in Europe in the next year but it's going to be very, very difficult.

So joining us for this one,

the Athletics Aston Villa writer Greg Evans,

Madrid-based Dermann Korygne,

who interviewed Emery for The Athletic last year

and Art DeRos, who covers Arsenal,

one of Emery's former clubs.

First thing's first, Greg, is this the first time you've been on a podcast with positive villa stuff to talk about?

I thought you was going to say from a hotel room there, Mark, for starters.

It kind of feels that way, yeah.

I mean, I've been covering this club for over a decade now,

and this is definitely the most enjoyable part that I've ever experienced.

...