Our 3️⃣ points as Villa make Premier League statement against Arsenal | OneFootball

Aston Villa continued their sensational form on Saturday, downing former Premier League leaders Arsenal at Villa Park.

Here is what we made of the match.

Aston Villa: The real deal

The chasm between the ‘big six’ and the clubs below them has never been bigger than in recent seasons, but Aston Villa are gatecrashing the party of the Premier League elite.

With a victory against the Gunners just days after beating treble-winners Manchester City, Unai Emery’s men have shown they need to be taken seriously.

The win sees Villa extend their winning streak at home to 15 games in the Premier League, the first time they have accomplished that feat in the club’s 149-year history. In that span, it’s 39 goals, seven conceded and eight clean sheets.

Two years ago they finished 14th in the table and last season seventh. This time around, Villa have earned 35+ points after 16 games of a top-flight campaign for only the fifth time (counting three point per win all-time).

The other four times that happened, they either won it all or finished second.

Now five points clear of title-holders Man City, Villa are certainly a contender with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal for the title.

Late heroics aren’t always an option

Arsenal have been the hosts of the late, late show in the Premier League this season.

Mikel Arteta’s men have won four games in the league this season with the winning goal coming later than the 80th minute, but those heroics won’t be sustainable forever.

Finding a way when it matters is the mark of champions, and Arsenal have shown they have that trait in recent weeks. But sooner or later, the late drama won’t go your way.

Kai Havertz appeared to have pulled off more drama when he scored in the dying minutes, but the goal was ruled out for a handball – seeing the rub of the green not go Arsenal’s way this time.

Should the Gunners want to exercise the demons of the 2022/23 season, they will need to start winning some more games at a canter.

As open as it comes

We could be seeing the Barclays we all know and love this upcoming spring, as there are at least four teams that look capable of winning it all.

While Arsenal and Manchester City came into the season as the favourites to go head-to-head for the Premier League title once again, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and perhaps even Tottenham Hotspur in spells, have shown that they have the talent to throw their hats in the ring.

Only seven points separate Liverpool in first and Manchester City in fourth, but Pep Guardiola’s side have shown time and again that no gap in December is too large to overcome.

With Aston Villa now proving to be world-beaters, we could be set for the first title race to feature more than two teams in a long while.

They say the table at Christmas is usually telling, but with only a few weeks until that marker, the summit of the Premier League looks like it will be on for plenty of twists as we head into 2024.