How long can Emery now keep playing down Villa's title chances?

VILLA'S Unai Emery for his understandable reasons wants to play down the claim that his side are contenders to win the Premier League.

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Villa manager Unai Emery celebrates the late winning goal against Arsenal

But with all due respect Unai, they are now contenders. Whether they pull it off remains to be seen but they have made remarkable progress.

They are the Premier League's most inform side over the last 11 League matches and are now in third in the actual current table - one point behind Manchester City and just three points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Remarkable when you think Villa did not score in their opening four league matches or win any of their first five games.

I thought at the start of this season that the schedule would be too tough again, even allowing for Emery’s outstanding ability in his job. I have been wrong so far even taking that poor start into account. The manager is a genius.

Villa have won all but one of their five matches in the Europa League going into Thursday's match in Switzerland against Basel (8pm kickoff, TNT Sports).

Villa are currently third in that league where the top eight teams of the 36 will automatically go into the knockout stage.

Villa ended Arsenal's long unbeaten run with a thrilling last-kick win at Villa Park in an excellent match on Saturday - substitute Emi Buendia scoring in the last second - 93 minutes, 59 seconds - having replaced Villa's other scorer Matty Cash in the 87th minute.