Unai Emery plays down title talk after Aston Villa shoot down Arsenal

Emi Buendia’s winner, with virtually the last kick of the game, earned Villa a 2-1 victory which moved them to within three points of the summit.

But Emery, who declared Arsenal “clear favourites” for the title in the build-up to the match, believes it is too early to discuss his own team mounting a challenge.

He said: “I am not thinking in it. I know 38 matches is very difficult. We are not a contender. If we were in the day 35, perhaps we can speak differently.”

Buendia’s winner, deep in the fourth minute of stoppage time, sparked wild scenes of celebration among Emery and his coaching staff.

Villa had taken the lead when Matty Cash fired home his third league goal of the season nine minutes before the break.

But Leandro Trossard then levelled for Arsenal early in the second half and though Villa had more chances to get the winner, the Gunners looked to have seen out the draw before Buendia struck.

Defeat ended an 18-match unbeaten run for Mikel Arteta’s side, stretching back to August.

Emery said: “I felt in 90 minutes that we had momentum. After their goal, we had 10 or 15 minutes to recover our structure. Again, we then dominated. We were pushing.

“Villa Park is something which we must feel always, how the supporters push us. We got the last goal for everything and because we believed that we could win this match.

“We planned this match to try to win, knowing how difficult it would be. The players were believing to get opportunities to win this match.

“Three points gives us a lot of confidence and it gives us a lot of feelings together about how we are doing in this way. The table, we are feeling better about it than two months ago.

“We need to keep consistency and our good form at home. We need to feel our fortress at Villa Park, feeling the energy of the supporters.”