Alan Shearer has had his say on Aston Villa's title credentials.placeholder image
Alan Shearer has had his say on Aston Villa's title credentials. | Getty Images
Aston Villa retained pace with the Premier League’s top two with victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Though they may have played it down as mere festive spirit until now, Aston Villa fans might be starting to believe that their side have a genuine chance of winning the Premier League title this season.
It is often the hope which kills you, so Villans fans may continue to hide behind their current position as third favourites behind pace-setters Arsenal and Manchester City. But victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday appeared to confirm Villa’s status as best of the rest, while they remain just a victory off the top, behind two sides they have already beaten this season, and with Arsenal up next.
Unai Emery’s side have won a quite remarkable 11 matches in a row in all competitions, eight in the Premier League, which marks their best runs since 1914 and 1910 respectively. This level of performance by a top-flight Villa side has simply never been seen in generations, begging the question amongst supporters and pundits alike of whether they can actually do it and mount a title charge this season.
Shearer gives Aston Villa title verdict
Match of the Day pundit and former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has given his verdict on Aston Villa’s title chances, speaking after Emery’s side came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 thanks to an Ollie Watkins double.
"We are nearly halfway through the season and you have to say that Aston Villa are genuine title contenders," said Shearer.
"Do I think they'll win it? No, but that is purely because the depth of their squad isn't quite there. But anything is possible under Unai Emery.
"His game management is superb as he showed yet again with his three subs at Stamford Bridge. They weren't in the game in the first half, but the introduction of Ollie Watkins, Jadon Sancho and Amadou Onana was inspired. His team just does not know when they are beaten.
"Where would they be if they had not had such an awful start? To think where they were after no wins in five to this incredible club-record run is quite something. They are 10 points clear of fifth now which will delight Emery. What they are doing is great for the Premier League - it's brilliant.
"They go to the Emirates next and what a game that is going to be."
Emery cautious to believe but Villa march on
Emery was not quite as willing to be optimistic and told Match of the Day: "Of course we are playing against Arsenal and our mentality is to compete strongly. We are not going to speak about our target in the league until we are in the day 34 because there are teams contending with a huge power to get points like Liverpool, like Chelsea and they are keeping contending more than us to be there.
"Of course we are performing very well, we are in a row winning matches, we are competing fantastic, we competed first half fantastic and we were struggling. But the second half more or less like this season we are progressively getting better and being humble."
On if he sees his side in the title race: "No, 38 matches, no, not. If it finishes tomorrow then this match against Arsenal is finishing the league. There are still another 20 matches to play."
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