Unai Emery and Aston Villa players celebrate Champions League qualification and get royal seal of approval from Prince William

Unai Emery was delighted as were his Aston Villa players as their place in next season’s Champions League was confirmed.

The Villans will be playing in Europe’s premier football competition for the first time since 1983, with their place confirmed by fifth-place Tottenham losing to Man City.

It means they go into the final game of the season, against Crystal Palace with fourth place secured.

And Emery was every Villa fan following the full-time whistle in north London as he threw both of his hands in the air alongside president of football operations Monchi at the club’s end of season awards.

Goalkeeper Emi Martinez sprayed champagne and Prince William reminded everyone where his loyalties lay by tweeting triumphantly: “We are Champions League! A historic season and an amazing achievement. Thanks to Unai, the whole squad and everyone at Aston Villa. Can’t wait for next season. Up the Villa!”

The achievement represents only the third time Villa have finished in the top four of the Premier League and first since 1995/96.

And that’s something Gabby Agbonlahor reminded everyone about on Twitter at full-time at White Hart Lane. “Champions league [is] where we belong!”

“It’s a very special day today,” Emery told the audience.

“It’s our dream, it was our dream when we started the season to be here. To play Champions League is, after the Premier League, the best.

“You can play in the Premier League against the best teams in the world, it’s very difficult.

“When you are playing in the Champions League you are playing against the best teams, at the same time, from other countries. And it’s amazing.

“And we are always responsible about the history here, we know the history of Aston Villa is so long and so successful.

“Even in the Champions League, before it was the European Cup, we knew the responsibility was to try to increase our level, try to be demanding and to dream.

“And now to win the Champions League like Aston Villa did in 1982, if we are there and we are in, then it’s more easy than if we are not.

“It’s another dream and the most important is to have dreams and try to work hard for it.

“Of course, I’m very, very, very happy and very proud of you (the supporters), the players and everybody.

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“I want to enjoy more and, next year, now the new challenge starts for us. To build again a team, being strong and being strong to go and always increase our level.

“This is our objective and always it’s trying to enjoy with you, the supporters; you are the heart of the club. Up the Villa!”

While Villa have benefited from City‘s victory, Arsenal’s title aspirations have taken a huge dent.

City have leapfrogged ahead of Mikel Arteta‘s men at the top of the table, needing just a win over West Ham to seal an historic fourth consecutive title.

And some fans joked about Ollie Watkins being an Arsenal fan when looking through pictures of delighted Villa players with one photo catching him in the background looking despondent.

He is anything but given he was named Villa’s Player of the Season having scored 27 goals in all competitions.

Against Palace on Sunday, he could become the first Villan to score 20 goals in a Premier League season. That is an extraordinary feat for the 28-year-old, who also is the most creative in the league.

So far he has recorded 13 assists, more than any other player and he was all smiles when he collected his club award.