[Getty Images]Nick Mashiter - Football reporterTue, December 2, 2025 at 10:38 AM UTC·1 min readUnai Emery will always play down Aston Villa's chances but he will be faced with title race questions soon enough.
Villa will be three points behind leaders Arsenal if they beat Brighton on Wednesday and the Gunners lose at home to Brentford.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThey welcome Mikel Arteta's pacesetters to Villa Park on Saturday and, while Emery will want to ignore them, the questions about their involvement in the title race will come, even if they seem fanciful.
They are entirely fair though, given Villa are a third of the way through the season, have won seven of their past eight Premier League matches and sit fourth.
Defender Ezri Konsa dismissed any talk after Sunday's 1-0 win over Wolves, saying: "I won't speak about the title. I don't think we are [dark horses]."
It signifies the focus within the squad and the caution used given the chasing pack.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWednesday's hosts Brighton are two points behind in fifth and just five points separate third to 11th in the table.
Villa are fourth without seriously finding top gear - Opta's expected table have them second bottom - so if they do finally hit their straps, Emery, who faces the media on Tuesday afternoon, will not be able to avoid the questions he loves to deflect.
Come back to this page later on Tuesday for all the key lines from Emery
