Former Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has delivered his verdict on the club's stunning Premier League form, seeing significant title credentials but ultimately predicting rivals Arsenal will lift the trophy.
Villa's Remarkable Surge into Contention
O'Neill's comments come after Unai Emery's side secured a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against West Ham United last weekend. That result solidified Villa's hold on third place in the table, sitting just three points behind leaders Arsenal and five ahead of Chelsea in fourth.
The win was part of a sensational nine-match winning streak that has propelled the Midlands club into the heart of the championship conversation, sparking dreams of a first league crown since 1981.
Praise Tempered with Pragmatic Prediction
Speaking to talkSPORT, O'Neill was full of admiration for the current Villa set-up. "He [Emery] is getting the best out of some very, very, very good players, and why shouldn't they be in the title race at this stage of the season?" he said.
However, the ex-Villa boss aligned himself with fellow pundit Simon Jordan's viewpoint that the ultimate prize will elude them. "My own view is that whoever finishes in front of Arsenal will win it," O'Neill stated, before adding, "I'm with Simon in this viewpoint."
He pointed to Arsenal's resilience, even when not at their best, as a key indicator of their champion mentality. "Scoring so late on against Wolves as well too, when you haven't probably played all that well. Big signs really, big, big signs," O'Neill emphasised.
Jordan Points to Arsenal's Strength and Villa's Improved Firepower
Simon Jordan also praised Emery, suggesting his difficult period at Arsenal was an "outlier" after the long reign of Arsene Wenger. He highlighted the positive testimony from players like Morgan Rogers about the manager's "winning mentality" as a crucial factor in Villa's rise.
Jordan identified Villa's earlier goal-scoring issues as a potential weakness, but noted it has been spectacularly resolved. "They'd scored 16 goals in 13 games, and all of a sudden bang, they've started scoring goals... so they give themselves a chance. They'll be in a race, but they aren’t going to win it," he argued.
He firmly believes the title is destined for North London. "I think it's Arsenal's time. I think it's [Mikel] Arteta's time," Jordan said, contending that Arsenal's current defensive absences present the best opportunity for rivals to take points, and if they fail now, they won't later in the season.
The consensus from the pundits is clear: Aston Villa have announced themselves as serious contenders in a thrilling Premier League title race, but the smart money remains on Arsenal to finish the job.
