Aston Villa Bounce Back in Style to Go Second with Convincing Win Over Forest

Aston Villa responded emphatically to their midweek setback by climbing to second place in the Premier League following a confident 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s early kick-off.

Unai Emery’s side came into the encounter eager to put things right after a bruising 4-1 defeat to Arsenal, and they wasted little time in showing their intent. Villa dominated proceedings and were rewarded before the break when Ollie Watkins fired home a powerful opener, underlining his importance to the team once again.

The hosts returned from halftime with renewed energy and doubled their advantage almost immediately. John McGinn capped off a well-worked move, finishing from close range after Matty Cash’s low drive caused problems in the Forest box.

McGinn was not done yet. The midfielder sealed the win by capitalising on a costly error from Forest goalkeeper John Victor, calmly slotting home to grab his second of the afternoon and Villa’s third.

The victory lifts Aston Villa to 42 points, just three behind league leaders Arsenal and one point clear of Manchester City, who face Chelsea on Sunday.

Opinion: This performance was more than just a win—it was a statement. After being humbled at the Emirates, Villa showed resilience, character and tactical discipline, hallmarks of an Unai Emery side growing in belief. With consistency and confidence building, Villa are no longer surprise contenders; they are firmly in the title conversation. If they continue to respond to setbacks with performances like this, the race at the top of the Premier League could become even more intriguing in the weeks ahead.