Aston Villa make their feelings clear about Newcastle United as Unai Emery speaks out
Newcastle United have received high praise from Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, who has recognized them as a “contender” in the race for top honors in the Premier League.
The Magpies made a bold statement in their latest match, defeating Arsenal 1-0 at St James’ Park and closing the gap to just three points behind both Villa, Chelsea, and Arsenal, who are all competing for the title. This win was particularly significant for Newcastle, as it came after a challenging five-game winless streak in the league, reminding everyone of the team’s potential when at their best.
Aston Villa, in particular, are all too familiar with Newcastle’s capabilities. Emery’s side enjoyed a remarkable campaign last season, finishing in a Champions League qualification spot, but they were on the receiving end of two heavy defeats to Newcastle, losing both home and away by a combined score of 8-2. The Magpies, along with Villa, have managed to break into the Premier League’s elite ranks, disrupting the established hierarchy of the top four teams. Emery clearly believes that Newcastle is well-positioned to continue competing at this level throughout the current season.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Emery acknowledged the dominance of the top three teams—Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal—but also highlighted the presence of other strong contenders like Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, and, of course, Newcastle. “We are there. They are top teams, seven teams, and we are more or less competing with them,” he stated, emphasizing the competitive nature of the Premier League this season.
Emery also referenced Leicester City’s extraordinary Premier League title win in 2016, a victory that defied expectations and demonstrated that anything is possible in football. “Leicester won, and when they won the Premier League, it was very difficult and maybe impossible for someone. This is a lesson. Nothing is impossible in football. You can dream and you can work hard to try and get it,” he remarked, reinforcing the idea that underdogs can succeed with the right combination of effort and belief.
Interestingly, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe also drew parallels with Leicester’s fairytale title win when he discussed the challenges his team faces in breaking the mold of the traditional top clubs. A few weeks ago, Howe admitted that Newcastle are not among the highest wage payers in the league, which means they will need to be “really smart” in their approach to compete with the established giants. “We’re in a position now where we are not one of the top teams in terms of wage payers, so we are going to have to be really smart and try and go against the grain again,” Howe said, emphasizing the need for tactical innovation and strategic thinking.
Newcastle’s manager further outlined the club’s philosophy, saying that the key to their success lies in being “elite in every aspect”—from coaching and recruitment to the finer details that make a significant difference. “That’s what we have always done, and that’s what we will continue to try to do,” Howe added. His comments reflected the club’s determination to continue progressing, even without the financial clout of some of their rivals, aiming to achieve big things through hard work, dedication, and careful planning.
