Unai Emery is adamantly refusing to frame Aston Villa as Premier League title contenders, even as his former club Arsenal wobble at the summit and his current side’s form becomes impossible to overlook.
A dramatic 2-1 victory over Arsenal at Villa Park on Saturday moved the hosts to within three points of the league-leading Gunners, with Manchester City sandwiched between them in a tight top three. Despite the result, Emery has consistently played down expectations, emphasizing the long road ahead rather than short-term excitement.
Villa find themselves in a position reminiscent of two years ago, when a strong first half of the season ultimately led to a fourth-place finish, 23 points behind champions Manchester City.
This time, however, their credentials appear stronger: they have beaten both Arsenal and City at home and are on a blistering run of nine wins from their last ten league matches, with seven consecutive victories across all competitions.
Yet skepticism remains, particularly regarding squad depth. Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy highlighted this perceived weakness, telling BBC Sport: “I don’t see them as title contenders, only because of a lack of strength in depth. But their best XI can beat anybody.”
Emery, who previously managed Arsenal, appears focused on maintaining stability and managing pressure rather than engaging in title talk. With more than a third of the season complete, however, Villa’s consistency, tactical discipline, and ability to compete with the league’s elite have inevitably sparked discussion about whether they can sustain a genuine challenge.
Whether they can maintain this pace through the congested festive period and beyond may ultimately determine if Emery’s cautious public stance gives way to a more ambitious reality.
