'They just find a way': Matt Maher and Jonny Drury analysis after Aston Villa take derby bragging rights
What Unai Emery has said about a potential Premier League title race between Aston Villa and Arsenal.
Unai Emery believes talk of a potential Premier League title race for Aston Villa must be ignored ahead of this afternoon’s clash with current leaders Arsenal.
The Villans have won eight of their last nine Premier League outings, soaring them to third in the standings on 27 points after 14 matches. The only league fixture Villa haven’t won since September 28 was away at Liverpool, a 2-0 defeat on November 1.
Brighton & Hove Albion thought they were set to end Villa’s purple streak as they went 2-0 up at the American Express Stadium midweek, however Villa impressively came from behind to win 4-3 in a thriller. Albeit a close call, Villa showed their elite mentality to claim maximum points.
Emery’s side are now within six points of Arsenal and could hop to within merely three if they beat the Gunners at Villa Park. Of course, the reverse result would leave a nine-point deficit instead, but there has still been talk that the boys in claret and blue could soon enter genuine title contention.
Emery bats away ‘title race’ claims
As much as Emery is proud of how his team have turned things around after being winless in their first five games, the Spaniard certainly isn’t getting carried away. There’s definitely confidence and optimism amongst the group but we’re only just over a third of the way into the season and Emery insists a lot can change.
"I've been asked about the title race... You know how I think. Keep humble,” Emery said - via The Athletic - ahead of Villa’s clash with Arsenal.
“Words of a title race are empty until April or May - we are starting December. These are headlines I dislike. Many people who put us there now were thinking in August we were a finished team,” Emery added.
As it stands, Villa are three points ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea, who were last week considered by many to be in the fight. But, following a shock defeat to Leeds United, the Blues have fallen well behind and already have a mountain to climb. The same could theoretically happen to Villa, except against far greater opposition in no less than the current leaders, Arsenal.
Villa Park can play significant role
With just one defeat at Villa Park so far this campaign, the 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace on August 31, the Villans are tricky to see off on home soil. That has been the case for much of the three or so years Emery has been in charge.
In fact, since losing this exact fixture against Arsenal in August last campaign, Villa have lost just one of their last 25 Premier League home games (W18, D8). That was, of course, that defeat to bogey team Palace at the start of the current campaign.
Whether it be the immense home atmosphere or the familiarity of playing at Villa Park, Emery’s men certainly look stronger at home. Whether or not that can continue against the formidable Arsenal awaits to be seen, but Emery’s optimism could soon grow if his team can pull off an upset.
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