'My message' - Emery's emphatic response to Premier League title race question after Aston Villa stun Arsenal

Aston Villa are not in a Premier League title race, insists Unai Emery, despite his side’s stunning last-gasp victory over Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.

Emiliano Buendia’s 95th-minute strike - the last kick of the game - clinched Villa all three points at the death after Leandro Trossard cancelled out Matty Cash’s emphatic opener. Villa Park was deafening at full time as those in claret and blue saw off the title favourites.

Villa are, without doubt, the division’s form team as they have now won nine of their last Premier League matches and are on a run of five successive triumphs. The 2-0 loss at Liverpool - and the goalscoring struggles at the start of the campaign - feel like a distant memory, with the Villans now very much in the hunt at the Premier League summit.

Are Villa now in the Premier League title race?

But saying Villa are now in the title race is a step too far, Emery believes. The Spaniard is delighted with how his players have shut out the noise despite the attention that’s upon them. Though, even when you’re trying not to get caught up in title race talk, it’s still difficult not to get excited on the touchline.

Emery was asked during the post-match press conference whether it was tricky to keep his emotions at bay after the winning goal. “Yes, because of course we planned this match trying to win, knowing the difficulties we were facing,” Emery began.

“We were responding and the players were believing when they were facing them to get opportunities to win this match. And of course, three points is giving us a lot of confidence, is giving us a lot of good feeling together how we are doing this way. And, in the table, of course now we are feeling better than two months ago.”

Emery sends emphatic message to Villa players

Man management is undoubtedly one of Emery’s strong points, and he’s doing a great job of keeping his players level-headed and energised amidst such an arduous fixture schedule. As Arsenal showed at Villa Park, it’s easy to slip up when fatigue becomes a factor, and focus is so important. Even the best of the best make mistakes.

With that in mind, Emery added: “My message is game by game and it is clear in each competition. Now we are going to play on Thursday in Basel and this is our focus. Then we are going to compete in West Ham and enjoy the way, I want to enjoy the way each moment.

“Today we worked, we are happy, try to be with family, with friends, rest. We are going to rest now for two days. We are on Tuesday again coming back and we must rest, rest and enjoy the other circumstances we can have around us. And then on Tuesday, one eye we always have on the next match.”

As Emery alluded to, Villa’s attention now shifts to a different competition. A trip to FC Basel awaits, before a Premier League visit to West Ham United on Sunday.