Unai Emery issues Aston Villa title contender verdict amid Arsenal and Man City Premier League battle

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Evening Standard

·21 dicembre 2025

Unai Emery issues Aston Villa title contender verdict amid Arsenal and Man City Premier League battle

Aston Villa are just three points off the Premier League summit having beaten both Arsenal and Man City this season

Unai Emery has said Aston Villa are not Premier League title contenders.

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Villa have, surprisingly, emerged as the closest challengers to Arsenal and Manchester City as the halfway point of the season approaches. Going into Christmas, Emery’s side sit third in the table and are three points off the summit.

Furthermore, Villa are the division’s form side after beating Manchester United on Sunday evening to record their seventh straight league win and tenth across all competitions.

However, despite Morgan Rogers’ stunning brace against Man Utd, Emery does not believe his side are competing for the title with Arsenal and Man City.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Spaniard said: "The realistic is the capacity and potential and we have played a lot of team like Arsenal and Manchester City.

“Of course we beat them here, but they have massive things tactically with players on a high level.

“And we have as well but to be a contender in front of them is our reality where is not.

"We are not contender. We are here because we are competing fantastic. The players are really focusing each match with what we are trying to set and being consistent. But we are not contender to be there.

Morgan Rogers inspired Aston Villa to victory over Manchester United

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"Of course we are being consistent in more or less three years, and getting into European positions, but we must continue to be humble. And understanding how we can get points like we did.

“We want to keep the same level by being intelligent, competitive, consistent and demanding. Through it we are here."

Villa’s credentials will be tested over the festive period with some difficult fixtures on the horizon.

They face both Chelsea and Arsenal away from home before the end of 2025 before taking on Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace in their first two matches of the new year.