When they defeated Arsenal 1-0 and in their latest win at Villa Park, Aston Villa extended their winning run at home in the Premier League to 15 matches. Their stretch of consecutive victories in front of their home supporters began in March and it's spanned across nine months.

Here's a look at how Villa have been able to make their home stadium a fortress.

Supporters Have Been Right Behind the Team

The support Aston Villa have been getting from their home fans has been superb. It's been helped by the fact manager Unai Emery has given them something to be excited about. Villa is very much in the title conversation this season, now priced at odds of 11/1 in the markets, for those who bet on the English Premier League. Villa are, therefore, just behind the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, respectively.

After victories over title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal in back-to-back games at Villa Park, Emery’s side should continue to be one of the popular Premiership tips for the rest of the season. They've shown they can have success against the best teams in the league.

Aston Villa have won 25 Premier League games in 2023, their most top-flight wins in a calendar year in their entire history. 👏#BBCFootball #AVFC pic.twitter.com/wKflNiNROD

— BBC Radio WM Sport (@sportbbcwm) December 17, 2023

It's been 42 years since Villa last won the top flight of English football, so the excitement in the West Midlands is understandably very high at the moment. Their last major silverware came in 1995 in the FA Cup.

Villa Park Helps Create an Atmosphere

One of the biggest criticisms of the newer grounds in the Premier League, like the Emirates Stadium London Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, is that it's very difficult to generate a strong atmosphere inside them. Villa Park, now over a century old, doesn't have that problem.

Aston Villa today welcomed Birmingham City Council's decision to grant planning permission for phase one of the club's redevelopment and expansion of Villa Park. 🟣

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 22, 2022

The West Midlands-based stadium is a compact ground that holds a capacity of 42,657. As Birmingham News reported this year, there are plans to increase it up to 50,000 and the club will be doing all they can to ensure they retain a great atmosphere inside the stadium.

The two-tiered stand behind the goal, the Holte End, is particularly known for being vociferous. This used to be the largest terrace in the country and despite it now being seated, it still houses many of Villa’s loudest supporters.

European Adventure Continues

Villa’s return to Europe has given the club a huge boost. They have had some special nights in Europe throughout their history, most notably their success in the 1982 European Cup. Although they are now in the third tier of European football, with the UEFA Europa Conference League, their supporters are relishing it.

Villa fans will be hoping their side can go all the way to the trophy in the UEFA Europa Conference League this season, just like West Ham did last June. They'll be fully aware that their home form is going to be crucial to any success.

Like most grounds in the country, an even greater atmosphere seems to be created under the floodlights at Villa Park. If they can win the UEFA Europa Conference League, it would give them an automatic entry into next season’s Europa League. However, they may be able to book a spot in either of the two premier European competitions through their league position this season.

Villa fans will be doing all they can in the second half of the campaign to give their players the lift they need to keep their excellent form going.