Star man explains why Aston Villa are only looking up the Premier League table after Newcastle win

The midfielder claims there is “no point looking backward” after Sunday’s 2-0 win at Newcastle moved Unai Emery’s men back to within four points of the Gunners.

Emery has continued to pour cold water over his team’s title credentials but Onana says Villa, who have an eight-point cushion over fourth-placed Manchester United, are only focused on what is above them.

“You always want to look up the table and try to challenge those teams in front of us,” he said. “There’s no point looking backwards.

“Arsenal are the clear favourite because they are performing week in week out and just beating every single team they face. They are clear favourites.

“We just try to do our best to keep up with them and the likes of City and Liverpool to stay in that mix.”

Sunday’s win was Villa’s first at Newcastle and came less than 72 hours after they won away at Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

The victories were the perfect response to the previous weekend’s 1-0 home defeat to Everton and Onana said: “This is what we are about, picking our heads up.

“We know who we are, what we are capable of and we showed it on Sunday. 

“Obviously it’s been a very long and difficult week traveling to Turkey. 

“I got home at 4am on Friday and was training the next morning. It’s not easy but that’s what we get paid for, to go out there and get the job done. That’s what we did.

“We showed personality and mentality. It’s tough coming to Newcastle and it’s been a brilliant performance from the team.”

Asked if the win had delivered a message to the doubters, Onana replied: “People can think whatever they want to think. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. 

“We have our own as a team, we know that we can perform and stay in that mix.

“Whatever people outside think, it doesn’t really bother us. It’s irrelevant.”