Arsenal are at the top of the Premier League with a two-point lead over Manchester City, but Aston Villa, who defeated Manchester United, are also in contention for third place with a one-point difference.
Despite their top form, Aston Villa should not be considered favorites to win the Premier League this season. That is the opinion of both Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville, who have ruled out Unai Emery’s side.
Villa are in third place in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Arsenal and one point behind second-placed Manchester City. Although the team had a sluggish start to the season, they rose through the ranks with 10 consecutive league wins.
Sunday’s 2-1 win against Manchester United extended their winning streak at Villa Park to 10 games, but they have only lost once in 2025. In-form Morgan Rodgers scored both goals for Emery’s side and will face a tough test of his ability when they face Chelsea and Arsenal in their next two games.
Villa have downplayed the idea of challenging Arsenal and City for the title, and Neville made his decision clear after watching them beat his former club on Sunday. “I’m drawing a line under the top two,” Neville said on Sky Sports. “Aston Villa exist and should be respected, but they are not going to win the league.
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“I would be surprised if that happened. A lot of things had to go wrong for Arsenal and Man City for Aston Villa to win the league. The league is strange. It’s not the top two teams, it’s the teams below them. I don’t really know what to make of the other teams.”
Rooney echoed his former teammate’s thoughts on Sunday night. Rooney was asked for his views after former Villa striker Dion Dublin said on Match of the Day that Villa were in the race. He immediately replied: “No, I don’t think they do and that’s not to say I’m disrespectful to Aston Villa.
“They’re not as good as Arsenal or Man City. They’re doing great, they’re doing great, but it takes a lot to win the title and I don’t think there’s any way they can be in the title race.”
Asked about Villa’s outstanding home performance and Emery’s experience, Rooney added: “Yeah, but I think it takes something special to win the Premier League title and I don’t think Aston Villa are at the level of Arsenal or Man City.”
Villa have kept one clean sheet in their last eight games in all competitions, and that was against bottom-of-the-table Wolves. He also ranks 15th in the Premier League based on expected goals (xG), suggesting that he has more punch than he currently has.
Emery’s side have trailed in each of their last five away games in the Premier League, and although they came from behind to win three of those games, their performances are not indicative of a title-winning team.
“We are not competitors,” Emery said after the match against United. “We’re here because we’re playing great. Our players are really focused and consistent each game on what we’re aiming for. But we’re not a contender to be there.”
Rodgers made clear Villa’s approach to the title, telling Sky Sports: “It’s not us having those conversations, it’s you guys. We’re very focused on the task at hand and we’re dealing with it every game.”
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