When Steven Gerrard was sacked in October, the only goals were scored to keep Villa out of the relegation zone.
Five months later, they became a club transformed under Unai Emery.
Bournemouth were easily dispatched 3-0 at Villa Park on Saturday for a third win in four games for Emery’s men.
Indeed, only four teams have collected more Premier League points since the former Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain boss was appointed.
Manchester United and City’s progress to the semi-finals of the FA Cup this weekend has raised the prospect that a seventh could be good enough for European football to be well within Villa’s reach.
“We can add a new step, an objective, now looking at the teams in the top 10,” said Emery after all but guaranteeing survival. “They have the advantage over us, we need to start fighting from behind them.
“But we’re going to play here against Fulham, we’re going to play here against Brighton, we’re going to play Brentford at Chelsea. Of course, it’s going to be very difficult, but we’re going to try to add We have a new target in mind.”