Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Arsenal - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - December 6, 2025 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Unai Emery said in Aston Villa's programme on Saturday that he disliked headlines calling his side title challengers but after an unforgettable 2-1 victory over leaders Arsenal on Saturday the Spaniard may need to get used to them.
Substitute Emiliano Buendia's winner with virtually the last kick of the Premier League game sparked an eruption of joy at Villa Park as the hosts became only the second team to beat Arsenal in any competition this season.
Villa's ninth win in their last 10 Premier League games -- a burst of form no other team can match -- left them three points behind title favourites Arsenal.
It also underlined the sense that the iconic Villa Park stadium is becoming a fortress. Since losing the corresponding fixture last August, Villa have lost just one of their last 26 home league games and they have won each of the last six.
Incredibly, Villa started the season in woeful fashion, failing to score in their first four Premier League games and picking up three points from their opening five games.
It looked as though the exertions of last season, when Villa enjoyed a memorable Champions League campaign, combined with the sale of players such as Jacob Ramsey to rivals Newcastle United had left the Midlands club with a hangover they could not shake off.
The Premier League Profit and Sustainability rules meant Villa's hands were tied in the summer window in which they failed to make a statement signing.
Despite all that, former Sevilla, Valencia, Paris St Germain, Arsenal and Villarreal manager Emery is displaying his magic touch again, with his Villa side on a roll.
Since March, no side has won more than Villa's 17 Premier League games and while their squad may not quite have the depth of Arsenal's or Manchester City's, Emery was still able to send on players such as match-winner Buendia, Jadon Sancho, the pacey Donyell Malen and former Manchester United defender Victor Lindelhof in the second half against Arsenal.
Still, it is impossible to get a declaration of title intent out of Emery. "We got three points and we are, in the Premier League, the most difficult league in the world, more or less, now feeling strong and feeling comfortable," he said.
"But this is a race for 38 matches and we are on 15. "I'm very proud how our supporters enjoyed this match. We wanted to play thinking here at Villa Park to transmit our supporters our energy, our wishes, our style, idea; playing with energy, intensity, playing football like we played.
"And, as well, when we needed some help through the supporters, transmitting us their energy and support."
Villa will now turn their attention to the midweek Europa League clash at FC Basel before next weekend's trip to West Ham United. Then the big test of their title credentials will arrive with games against Manchester United, Chelsea and the return with Arsenal.
Come through those with a healthy pot of points and even Emery will have to start using the T word.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Clare Fallon)
