Nicolas Jackson’s form in the Champions League is giving Aston Villa hope for the 2026-27 season, even as their start in the Premier League is a cause for concern. After the first two game weeks, Jackson was among the top scorers with three goals. Of the 36 teams’ players, only Erling Haaland, Ermedin Demirovic, and Nicolò Tresoldi had more.

Jackson, a regular for Senegal, scored away against Club Brugge to help Villa to a 3-2 win in September. Then he got two against Fenerbahce in October. That was a 6-0 destruction, by far Villa’s most convincing win of the opening two months.

While not as successful as his start in Europe, Jackson also helped Villa domestically with two goals in his first six league games.

Jackson was a record signing for Villa

Jackson arrived in Birmingham as Villa’s club record signing for £65 million. He replaced the departing Ollie Watkins, who had been the team’s main striker in the previous six seasons.

Just before deadline day, head coach Unai Emery had said the players the club was signing were “good players”, but noted the need to balance experience with potential.

Jackson sits somewhere between the two camps – at 25 years old, he may be nearing his prime. His best season so far arguably came at Chelsea in 2023-24 when he scored 14 Premier League goals.

Villa in the Champions League

Villa’s European form contrasted greatly with their domestic matches in the first two months of the season. They were strong favorites for their third match in the Champions League, home to Viking FK, on African sportsbooks like GSB Tanzania. After two games, Villa sat 3rd in the league phase, level on points and goal difference with Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

Jackson was beaming after the Fenerbahce win. At that point, he had scored four goals in his last three matches in all competitions. The forward said he was “trying to score every game” and was focused on doing his best for the manager.

He also had praise for Johan Manzambi, another expensive summer recruit. Jackson called Manzambi an “amazing player” and said he hoped they gave each other many assists.

Emery is a specialist in Europe: he has won five Europa Leagues, including the title with Villa last season. However, Emery has not reached the Champions League semi-finals since 2022, when he was with Spanish side Villarreal.

Goals… but missed chances, too

Villa have had a far harder time in the league, but sometimes they have won when not at their best.

Following the 1-0 victory over Newcastle, Jackson said he was not flustered having missed chances. He was heavily involved despite not scoring.

Manzabi, playing behind Jackson in the no. 10 position, was one of the game’s best players. The attacking midfielder got the winner. He also helped in Villa’s press, which often created chances on counter-attacks.

Emery’s Villa have often been undone by individual defensive errors this season, but they have continued their hard efforts off the ball.

Villa have forged an identity as a relentlessly hardworking team under Emery. In that post-match interview, Jackson called Emery one of the world’s best coaches.