Amadou Onana has given his opinion on whether Aston Villa can compete for the Premier League title this season
Aston Villa's Amadou Onana
Aston Villa's Amadou Onana(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Amadou Onana insists Aston Villa must look up the table rather than behind them after closing the gap to league leaders Arsenal to just four points.
Unai Emery’s side defeated Newcastle United 2-0 at St. James’ Park on Sunday, a statement result considering the club’s previously woeful record on Tyneside, having failed to win in their last 17 visits.
After Arsenal’s dramatic home defeat to Manchester United, Villa and Manchester City can continue to pile pressure on the Gunners as the final third of the league campaign approaches.
Villa suffered a shock home defeat themselves earlier this month, as Everton left the second city with a 1–0 victory. However, after beating Fenerbahce less than 70 hours after playing at Newcastle, the win over Eddie Howe’s side capped off a perfect week of results for Emery’s men.
“The whole team knew that coming here it’s always a difficult game,” Onana said after beating Newcastle. “So this win will definitely give the team some more confidence, and I hope that we will carry on this way.
“He [Emery] was definitely happy and pleased with the performance. We showed personality and mentality. It’s tough coming here, and it’s been a brilliant performance from the team.
“The loss against Everton at home, it doesn’t happen quite often, but this is what we are about, picking our heads up.
“We know who we are, what we are capable of, and we showed it today. Obviously it’s been a very long and difficult week traveling to Turkey.
“I got home at 4am, and it was training the next morning. It’s not easy, but that’s what we get paid for, to go out there and get the job done. That’s what we did.”
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Villa are targeting a Champions League finish this season and now hold a 10-point buffer inside the top five.
While Emery refuses to entertain title talk, if Villa maintain their form and keep pace with Arsenal, he may not be able to dismiss claims that his side can compete for the title for much longer.
“It’s just about trying to perform week in, week out and going out there, putting on the best performance we can and playing to the max of our ability,” Onana continued.
“Arsenal are the clear favourite because they are performing week in, week out and just beating every single team they face. They are clear favourites.
“We just try to do our best to keep up with them and the likes of City and Liverpool, to stay in that mix.
“You always want to look up the table and try to challenge those teams in front of us. There’s no point looking backwards.”
Onana added: “People can think whatever they want to think. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.
“We have our own as a team, we know that we can perform and stay in that mix. Whatever people outside think, it doesn’t really bother us. It’s irrelevant.”
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