Alan Shearer rules club out of Premier League title race

Alan Shearer says he doesn’t expect Aston Villa’s winning run to continue for much longer and the club will ultimately fall short in the race for the Premier League title.

The Villains endured a desperately disappointing start to the campaign and sat 18th in the table after failing to pick up a single win from any of their opening five matches.

But Unai Emery as managed to steer Villa back towards the summit in the intervening weeks and months, with the side losing just once – away to champions Liverpool – since as far back as August.

On Saturday afternoon, Villa produced arguably their most impressive performance of the season as they consigned league leaders Arsenal – Emery’s former club – to only their second defeat of the season in all competitions.

Leandro Trossard had looked to have rescued a point for the Gunners after cancelling out Matty Cash’s earlier effort, but Emiliano Buendia popped up in the fifth minute of stoppage time and beat David Raya to send the Villa Park crowd into a frenzy.

The result saw third-place Villa move to within three points of Arsenal, with Manchester City separating the two teams in second.

Villa will look to make it eight wins on the bounce in all competitions when they return to Europa League action against Basel on Thursday night. There is then a quick turnaround before Emery’s men head to the capital to take on West Ham.

‘Unbelievable. They were outstanding,’ ex-England and Newcastle striker Shearer said of Villa’s 2-1 triumph over Arsenal on The Rest Is Football podcast.

‘It was a great game, it really was end to end and loads to talk about.

‘But Villa, wow, they’ve got so many impressive performances yesterday. They were brilliant all over the pitch.

‘They gave Arsenal a right good game, I really, really enjoyed it and do we have to talk about Villa as title contenders now? Because no one has mentioned Villa for the title until now.’

Though let down by their inferior goal difference, Villa could go level on points with top-of-the-table Arsenal if results go their way next weekend.

According to Shearer, Villa have forced their way into the ‘conversation’ for the title thanks to their outstanding form of late.

However, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer is confident Emery’s side will have fallen away come the business end of the season.

‘I don’t think they will win it but they have to have put themselves into the conversation,’ Shearer added.

‘I don’t expect their brilliant run to continue. I don’t know… but you have to talk about them because of the way they’re playing, the results they’re getting and how consistent they’ve been.

‘That’s the impressive thing that, after their start to the season, how massively they have improved.

‘I know Arsenal have had injuries and the two centre-halves are missing and all of that.

‘But Aston Villa put in a top performance against a top team and that’s why you have to have them in the conversation.’

Emery was quick to play down Villa’s chances of lifting the Premier League trophy when facing the media in the immediate aftermath of his side’s statement win over Arsenal.

But Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta took a different view, telling reporters: ‘They are.

‘When you look at where they are, the way they play, they have beaten some big teams, especially at home.

‘Everybody is going to have to play everybody, so at the moment they are where they are and we are there as well.’

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