Aston Villa 2.0 arrives after Champions League statement as £118m transfer verdict lands early

07:00, 15 Oct 2026Updated 08:23, 15 Oct 2026

Johan Manzambi was on the scoresheet for Aston Villa against Fenerbahce(Image: David Davies/the Press Association)

Wednesday night felt like the start of Aston Villa’s new era. 'The Next Chapter' was the book being read by the Villa Villan on the pre-match tifo and recording the club’s biggest-ever win in major European competition was a hell of a way to mark it.

Indeed, Villa have won more games than any other team in European competition since the start of last season and have claimed 11 straight victories, with only Manchester United and Manchester City recording more consecutive wins this century.

There has been plenty of talk about Villa’s struggles at home so far this season, having lost to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest before drawing 2-2 with Brentford last time out, with the North Stand rebuild cited as a contributing reason.

When Villa control matches, they create a stable atmosphere. With the opposition pinned back and momentum firmly in their hands, the lack of noise from behind one goal isn’t such an issue.

Birthday boy Johan Manzambi put Villa ahead early on, before Nicolas Jackson scored two similar goals to virtually kill the game off before half-time. Both summer signings, costing up to £118 million in add-ons, have been excellent additions for Emery this summer and more will come from the likes of Ibrahim Mbaye, Joao Gomes and the many other new arrivals.

Manzambi was awarded Man of the Match after becoming the second player to score on his Champions League debut on his birthday, following Spartak Moscow’s Romulo against Barcelona in September 2012. Bizarrely, Emery was also Spartak’s manager on that occasion.

Jackson, who was outstanding with his link-up play and combinations, as well as bagging a brace, was disappointed to learn shortly after full-time that he hadn’t won the Man of the Match award. However, he was all smiles as he walked through the mixed zone an hour after the final whistle.

Of course, had he been awarded the penalty that Ross Barkley scored and then converted it himself, he would have had the perfect night, complete with the match ball and MOTM award. This won’t be the last time he terrorises defences at Villa Park or in the Champions League, though.

Ollie Watkins is a Villa legend for the goals he scored and the trophy he won with the club at the end of last season, but there’s a fair argument to suggest that Jackson is actually an improvement on him.

Without rewriting history or doing Watkins a disservice, Villa now have a younger striker who can do much of what the Al-Hilal forward could do in his pomp. He’ll only get better from here, too, which is a worrying prospect for Premier League defences.

Elsewhere, Villa didn’t replace many of their outgoing players like for like, but Jackson for Watkins is about as close as it gets. Manzambi, for example, is a very different player to Morgan Rogers, yet is starting to have a real impact on this team.

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Having turned 21 on Wednesday night, Manzambi has already helped drag a team to a European final and enjoyed a stellar World Cup campaign, scoring three goals and providing a couple of assists in four matches. He is now making his mark in the Premier League and UEFA’s elite club competition.

Manzambi has now recorded four goal involvements in his last three matches, as well as winning a penalty.

“Today was very good. We scored six goals and no goals conceded. That's very nice. For the fans it's amazing,” Manzambi said on TNT Sports.

"Very happy. My first Champions League game and my first goal - on my birthday. My family are here. That's very nice for me. Amazing team. Amazing fans. I'm very happy to play here."

This was a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come in this new era. Villa are showing increasing signs that their exciting, new-look squad has what it takes to continue the club’s upward trajectory despite plenty of changes over the summer.