This is the moment that Aston Villa secured Champions League football for the first time ever after Tottenham‘s defeat by Man City confirmed the Midlands club’s fourth-place finish – with the result sparking wild scenes of celebration and joy.
As the full-time whistle blew at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa’s suited-and-booted players and staff rejoiced following what is a monumental achievement.
But not everyone was in the party mood at the club’s end-of-season awards dinner.
As the champagne flowed and hugs were being shared, Ollie Watkins appeared to look glum as he sat in his seat while Unai Emery and Co threw their hands up in the air in sheer delight.
The rather strange reaction will have left many scratching their heads as to why the team’s star striker was delayed in not celebrating securing Champions League football.
Unai Emery (right) and his Aston Villa staff and squad celebrate securing Champions League football – but Ollie Watkins (circled) cuts a glum figure
Watkins looks gutted as it’s confirmed Champions League football will be played at Villa Park
However, a reason for Watkins’ bizarre reaction can be explained after an interview he had in 2022 recently resurfaced online – and it’s because he’s a huge Arsenal fan.
In an interview with YouTube personality Chunkz, Watkins was asked who he supported growing up, to which the England star replied: ‘I’m a big Arsenal fan. Thierry Henry I think is the best player to have played in the Premier League – he could do everything.’
While Watkins soon joined his team-mates in celebrating the achievement, his hilarious reaction is understandable given Man City’s win over Spurs means his beloved Gunners are now unlikely to win their first league title in two decades.
Haaland’s 51st-minute goal and added-time penalty – moments after substitute goalkeeper Stefan Ortega saved brilliantly from Son Heung-min – sent City back to the top of the table at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of their final match against West Ham on Sunday.
Title rivals Arsenal, who sit two points behind City on 86 points with a superior goal difference, needed Pep Guardiola’s side to drop points if they wanted the destiny of the title to be in their hands this weekend.
An interview from 2022 has resurfaced where Watkins explains he’s a big Arsenal fan
Erling Haaland scored twice to move Man City back above Arsenal the top of the league table
Defeat against City ensured Aston Villa’s place in next season’s Champions League
Meanwhile, it was Emiliano Martinez who led Aston Villa‘s wild celebrations in Birmingham on Tuesday evening.
Emery created history by guiding the former European champions to the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
The Spaniard was evidently delighted as news reached him that they had secured their place in the Champions League alongside Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Upon it being announced to those in attendance that Villa would be playing amongst Europe’s elite next season, Emery – sat amongst his coaching staff – raised his arms in the air and roared with relief.
Should Spurs have beaten Man City then it would have made for a nervy final day after Villa had previously spurned the chance to beat Liverpool on Monday that would have been enough to conclude the top four race before Tuesday.
Emery’s celebration was mute in comparison to Argentine goalkeeper Martinez, who was quick to pop the cork off a champagne bottle and began spraying it on his team-mates.
Goalkeeper Emi Martinez sprayed multiple bottles of champagne in celebration at the dinner
Martinez (right) sprays champagne along with Diego Carlos (left) after the club’s qualification for the Champions League was confirmed
Martinez looked emotional as the team celebrated and wiped his eyes after getting champagne in them. The 31-year-old now has a chance to add a Champions League title to his trophy cabinet alongside the World Cup.
The former Arsenal shot-stopper continued to play the role of chief mischief-maker when he crept up on Emery and doused him with alcohol.
Villa defender Diego Carlos also joined in spraying champagne, possibly feeling reprieved after missing a huge goalscoring chance against Liverpool the previous night.
Youri Telemans, Pau Torres and other Villa stars also beamed as their triumph was confirmed.
Emery later reacted to Villa’s achievement, telling the crowd at the dinner: ‘Thank you so much, it is a very special day today. It is our dream.
Villa defender Pau Torres was amongst the chaos as players, staff and fans celebrated wildly
‘We started the season to get here and we were thinking it would be the most difficult. We focused on the Premier League strongly, with injured players at Newcastle losing 5-1.
‘Always the injured players were in our minds but the team always they were focusing and trying to commit strongly to get the oddity we had and today to get it is fantastic really.
‘To play Champions League after the Premier League is the best. You can play in England against the best teams in the world and when you play Champions League you are playing best teams in other countries.
‘We all know the history at Aston Villa but even in Champions League we knew to dream to get it and to win the Champions League like Aston Villa once did. If we are there it is more easy than if we are not,’ he added.
Villa travel to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday for their final Premier League fixture of the season.
