Aston Villa have confirmed their return to the Champions League.
The focus is now on Wednesday's Europa League final against Freiburg in Istanbul, but, while Villa have been in the Champions League spots since November, they remain the Premier League's overperformers.
According to Opta's expected table, Emery's side should sit 12th.
Eight places – and 15 points – better off than their expected position, they are the highest overperforming team in the Premier League.
Sunderland and Everton are the only other sides overperforming by more than two places.
Villa's 54 goals rank seventh in the league, below 10th-place Chelsea (55), while their 471 shots is just ninth highest – also lower than any of the top six and Chelsea.
Their number of shots on target ranks eighth, behind the rest of the top six, Brighton and Newcastle United – but their shot conversion rate of 11% is bettered by only Brentford (14%), Manchester City (13%) and Arsenal (13%).
Only Tottenham (+8.33) have overperformed their expected goals (xG) more than Villa, while five clubs have defied their xG more at the back.
Villa have also balanced their league campaign with the Europa League, reaching their first major European final since winning the European Cup in 1982.
As they overperform on the pitch, it would be ignorant not to look at the restrictions Emery has been working under.
Villa have been operating with the handbrake on, but Champions League qualification, for the second time in three years, should allow that to be lifted.
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