Premier League legend Alan Shearer has delivered his verdict on Aston Villa's sensational season, stating he does not believe Unai Emery's side will be genuine title contenders come the final months of the campaign.
Shearer's Title Race Prediction
The Match of the Day pundit, speaking to Betfair, was full of praise for Villa's remarkable turnaround but stopped short of including them in the championship conversation. "I don't expect to see Villa challenging for the title come April," Shearer stated bluntly. He clarified that this view "is not to take anything away from the job Unai Emery's doing," which he described as "fabulous."
Shearer's prediction points towards a familiar showdown for the trophy. "I hope I'm wrong for Villa, but I think it'll be Arsenal and City going head-to-head in April and May," he added, envisaging another duel between the current top two.
Villa's Stunning Form and Underlying Debate
Shearer's comments follow a seventh consecutive Premier League victory for Villa, a 2-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday powered by a Morgan Rogers brace. This result cemented their position in third place, just three points behind leaders Arsenal.
The club's surge up the table is all the more impressive given their difficult start to the season, where they failed to win any of their opening five league matches. However, their current streak has sparked debate among analysts. Some statistical models, including expected goals (xG), suggest Villa's points haul may be outperforming their underlying performances.
Regardless of the data, Emery's team continues to collect crucial wins, demonstrating a resilience that has them firmly in the top-four picture.
Champions League the Realistic Target?
While dismissing Villa's title chances, Shearer was emphatic about their prospects for a return to Europe's elite competition. "A realistic target is to try and keep Villa in the top four, and even that would be an unbelievable achievement," he asserted.
He highlighted the scale of Emery's transformation at Villa Park, noting an incredible statistic: "I read that when Emery took over, there were six in the team yesterday that were in the team for his first game. That is incredible."
Shearer also pointed to the manager's exceptional 55 percent win rate at the club, labelling it "astonishing for a manager." This record, combined with the form of players like the confident Rogers, provides a solid foundation for a sustained push for Champions League football, even if the ultimate prize remains out of reach in Shearer's eyes.
