EMERY'S REAPING REWARD OF BASEBALL

UNAI EMERY insists Aston Villa feel only the weight of their own high standards, not the expectations of outsiders who claim they are ‘in a title race’.

- BY JOHN TOWNLEY

His Villans recorded their eighth consecutive victory on Thursday night by defeating FC Basel in the Europa League. That win followed two impressive Premier League results: a 4-3 triumph at Brighton then a 2-1 victory over league leaders Arsenal last weekend.

Villa are on their longest topflight success streak in 111 years, having secured 14 wins in their past 16 matches across all competitions.

It's no surprise that they're being touted as potential challengers to Arsenal. But with less than half the campaign gone, Emery (below) has reason to temper such talk ahead of their visit to West Ham this afternoon.