Is Aston Villa a Genuine Title Contender?

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Aston Villa has been on a rapid rise since the arrival of Unai Emery. The former Arsenal manager has transformed the club, and the fans are now dreaming of the English Premier League title. Are the Villans genuine championship contenders this season?

Villa in the Mix

Just a few years ago, Aston Villa was in the EFL Championship, struggling to return to English soccer’s top tier. However, they are back in the big time, and Emery has made a massive impact since taking over at Villa Park. Villa is now in the top regions of the EPL table and could challenge for the title this term. This is certainly backed up by the consensus from oddsmakers, too. As it stands, outright markets for those online betting with Rhino.bet currently has Aston Villa priced at odds of +1600 to lift the Premier League trophy this season.

Of course, overhauling the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool will not be an easy task. City and the Gunners are going head-to-head again, while Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have made a massive improvement this season. Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United cannot be ruled out, either.

Aiming for the Top Four?

Winning the title may be a step too far for Aston Villa, though Emery’s troops will no doubt keep fighting until the very end. After superb back-to-back 1-0 home wins over Man City and Arsenal in December, the latter being thoroughly detailed in this article by Arsenal.com, the Midlands club closed the gap at the summit.


Getting their hands on the EPL trophy may be a tall order for the Villa players, but they will back themselves to secure a top-four finish. They’re hoping to keep the momentum ticking during the busy holiday period. Aston Villa is already in Europe this term, competing in the UEFA Europa Conference League, which is the third-best European club competition.

Over the last 20 years, Aston Villa has failed to finish higher than sixth in the top tier. Last term, Emery guided the club to seventh place, which was Villa’s best finish since the 2009-10 season.

Stunning First Half of the Campaign

Aston Villa’s 2023-24 Premier League campaign got off to the worst possible start when the team lost 5-1 at Newcastle. However, Villa hit back in style, going on to win four league and cup matches in a row.

They have had several eye-catching results, including the home wins over Man City and Arsenal. Villa has secured big victories against Everton (4-0), Brighton & Hove Albion (6-1), and West Ham United (4-1) at fortress Villa Park this season. As this article on home records from PremierLeague.com highlights, the club’s reputation (when compared to others in the league) has been sensational so far.


Emery has enjoyed his time back in the Premier League. Having disappointingly left Arsenal in 2019, the Spaniard seemingly has unfinished business with England’s top flight.

Aston Villa was the perfect match for Emery, and the ex-Paris Saint-Germain boss has been a huge hit with the fans. This famous English team has had its struggles over the past decade or so, but Aston Villa is heading in the right direction again. Can they shock the soccer world and win the EPL title this term?