Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has firmly played down suggestions his side are in the Premier League title race, despite a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge that propelled them to third in the table.
Emery's Cautious Stance on Title Ambitions
When directly asked if Villa could now be considered challengers for the championship, Emery was unequivocal. "Not really," he stated, repeating the phrase for emphasis. The Spaniard acknowledged his team's impressive form but pointed to the sustained excellence required over a full campaign.
"I have a feeling that we are competing very well, and we are now third in the league with two teams in Manchester City and Arsenal – wow, fantastic teams," Emery said. "We have to play 38 matches. We have played 18 and still have 20 to play. Teams like Liverpool, like Chelsea, like Manchester United – we must compete against them. We have to try to be consistent over 38 matches."
Watkins Inspires Villa's Remarkable Turnaround
The match itself was a tale of two halves. Chelsea, under head coach Enzo Maresca who served a touchline ban in the press box, dominated the first period and took a deserved lead through Joao Pedro. The Blues could have been further ahead by the interval.
The game turned on its head in the second half, however, with substitute Ollie Watkins entering the fray to devastating effect. The England striker scored twice to complete the turnaround, securing Villa's 11th consecutive victory across all competitions and moving them to within just two points of leaders Arsenal.
Maresca's Frustration and Palmer's Reaction
For Chelsea, the defeat highlighted familiar issues. Maresca pinpointed game management as a critical failing. "The goal we conceded was the turning point," he lamented. "Until that goal, we were completely in control. It's not the first time that has happened. When we concede a goal, even if we are winning, we struggle a little with the management of the game."
The match also saw a visibly frustrated reaction from Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer, who smacked the back of his seat after being substituted in the 72nd minute for Estevao Willian. Maresca defended his player, stating Palmer had performed well and was being managed with another game in 48 hours against Bournemouth in mind.
Looking Ahead to Arsenal Showdown
Attention now turns to a seismic midweek clash, with Villa travelling to face league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. A win would see Emery's side draw level on points with the Gunners, yet the manager remained steadfastly cautious.
Asked if a victory in North London might change his perspective on the title race, Emery focused solely on the scale of the challenge. "You are asking me now about the match against Arsenal? It's very, very difficult," he said. "In the Emirates they are so, so, so strong. The next challenge is the biggest we will face because they are the best team now."
Chelsea are set to investigate an incident where a plastic water bottle was thrown towards the Villa dugout after the final whistle. The visiting team reported the matter to referee Stuart Attwell.
