When Aston Villa walked out to face Viking in the Champions League, a giant tifo emblazoned with the message 'We've Conquered Before. We're Prepared For More' dropped down from Villa Park's famous Holte End.

At the same time, Villa manager Unai Emery was striding along the touchline to a standing ovation as he took the acclaim from supporters.

Emery celebrates the fourth anniversary of his appointment from Villarreal when Villa face Premier League leaders Manchester City at Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime, his arrival a transformative moment for one of the great old footballing institutions.

He has written his name into Villa Park history, adding to a track record there and at other clubs that marks him down as one of the game's elite operators.

And it was reflected in every moment against Viking with an emphatic victory.

Villa Park's mood was buoyant and expectant - restored to the state of optimism that came with last season's Europa League triumph following a campaign that saw 54-year-old Emery return the club to the Champions League.

It was in sharp contrast to some trepidation weeks earlier after a summer which saw a host of big names depart and Villa deliver what has become something of a trademark under Emery, a slow start that usually ends with the closure of the transfer window.

The scale of change at Villa can be underscored by the fact six of the starting line-up that won the Europa League with a 3-0 win against Freiburg in Istanbul in May left during the summer.

Norwegians Viking were duly dispatched 3-1 amid more jubilation, Villa making it three wins from three and actually topping the standings in the Champions League table until Peter Christiansen's late goal for the visitors left them level on nine points with holders Paris St-Germain, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Real Betis.

It followed on from the 6-0 win against Fenerbahce in the Champions League at Villa Park. Villa have now won 12 European home games in a row, under the great specialist Emery.

Little wonder, then, that Emery was elated as he looked ahead to Saturday's meeting with Manchester City, who have a 100% record from seven games.

Villa Park is certain to be high on excitement and emotion as Emery said: "Those three points fills us with confidence. We are comfortable, and of course as well getting balance, because after this match we are going to play against Barcelona, favourites, and then we play against Galatasaray away."

He also noted how Villa Park is right on board with his impressive transition into what can be described as "Villa 2.0", saying: "We now try to focus now on the Manchester City game on Saturday, hopefully the same atmosphere, the same energy. I am so, so happy but we must keep moving forward with the challenges we are going to face.

"There's still a lot of work to do, so how we are responding, getting better, is really fantastic."

Emery, if it is possible, appeared even more animated than usual during the Viking game, looking energised by the renewal he had to perform in the summer and the promise shown by Villa's new players.

The list of summer departures looked daunting, with keeper Emiliano Martinez, Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans leaving, along with England trio Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Morgan Rogers - the latter duo to Arsenal and Chelsea for a combined total of £172m as Villa raked in about £320m.

They had been integral to that Europa League win, the club's first European trophy for 44 years when they won the European Cup, and first domestic triumph since the League Cup win in 1996.

Villa's start to the season was slow, losing 4-0 at Brighton - with all four goals scored before half-time - then 1-0 at home to Arsenal. A goalless draw at Hull City was followed by 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest at Villa Park.

The duck was broken with their first win at Spurs. Suddenly Villa and Emery looked like their old selves, culminating in those victories against Fenerbahce, a fine 1-0 win at Newcastle United, and Viking.

And what will please Emery and Villa's fans - who never wavered in their total faith in the manager they worship - is how the new signings have been contributing, suggesting the magician has produced a winning formula again, and quickly.

It will come as no surprise given Emery's back catalogue of work, which includes three successive Europa League wins with Sevilla, another with Villarreal and of course Villa's triumph. Even in what is regarded as an unrewarding spell at Arsenal, he still took them to the final of competition in 2019, although they lost to Chelsea.

It is why Villa's hierarchy, led by co-owner, Nassef Sawiris, give Emery everything he requires where possible.

Alongside sales, Villa spent £280m, and the early signs are they have invested wisely.

Against Viking, 20-year-old Brazilian Alysson, playing on the right flank, was Villa's most impressive performer. He preceded the summer signings, arriving from Gremio in January in a deal that could eventually be worth £10.4m.

He terrorised Viking with his pace, and even if his finishing still appears raw, he looks a superb prospect. Alysson won a penalty for Emiliano Buendia to put Villa two up, then ended a surging run by seeing his cross deflected into his own net by Henrik Heggheim for the third.

Ibrahim Mbaye, an 18-year-old signed in a £47m deal from Paris Saint-Germain, also showed flashed of rich promise on the other wing, a tantalising future partnership for Villa fans.

He appeared in all four of Senegal's matches at the 2026 World Cup, netting in a 3-1 defeat by France to become the youngest African player to score at a men's World Cup.

New keeper Zion Suzuki, the 24-year-old Japan keeper brought in from Parma for £30m, had big gloves to fill in replacing cult hero Martinez, but has looked assured, with the added bonus of an outstanding range of short and long passing that gives Villa an added dimension.

Joao Gomes, the midfielder in at £38m from Wolverhampton Wanderers, also showed what he offers against Viking.

Emery turned to a player who knew well to replace Watkins after he left to join Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, signing Nicolas Jackson, who he coached at Villarreal, for £65m from Chelsea. He has settled quickly with five goals already.

Arguably the most exciting arrival of all is Johan Manzambi, a break-out World Cup star with Switzerland. The 21-year-old midfielder cost a little more than £50m from Freiburg. It was a deal pulled out from under the noses of Newcastle United, leaving then manager Eddie Howe devastated.

He piled on the agony with the winner at St James' Park after scoring on his full debut in the victory at Spurs, although he is currently a doubt to face Manchester City.

Emery has not just made it a case of out with the old and in with the new as he rebuilds Villa.

Captain John McGinn remains the heartbeat of his side, while former England midfielder Ross Barkley is undergoing a late career renaissance.

The 32-year-old scored against Viking, his fourth this season, also scoring twice in the rout against Fenerbahce.

Barkley was a surprise signing from Luton Town in July 2024, having had a season on loan at Villa Park in the 2020-21 season.

Emery is a huge admirer and said after the win against Viking: "As a person, he is a fantastic guy. Ross Barkley is a very good player with experience, and his career, I don't know why, was going down after Chelsea.

"When we watched him at Luton, we thought, 'wow, what a player'. I am so happy with how he is playing, always being respectful whether he is playing or not. I am pushing him a lot offensively. I know he can score and can head the ball. I am very demanding of him offensively. I am happy for him."

It is in Emery's demanding nature to push his players a lot, although no harder than he pushes himself.

And it why those early concerns about how Villa would handle the departure of so many important, high-profile, players have been banished before Manchester City come to Villa Park.