Aston Villa’s ‘amazing’ victory over Man City hailed by Unai Emery as it moved the Villains third, but the boss warns his players face the ‘biggest challenge’ of the season so far against the leaders Arsenal

• Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says his players can dare to dream after their start
• He calls Saturday’s game against leaders Arsenal the ‘biggest challenge’ so far
• It will do Arsenal no harm at all to have Arteta out of sight at Villa Park – IAKO

Unai Emery says Aston Villa can dare to dream after their stunning start – but has warned they face their ‘biggest challenge’ yet against leaders Arsenal.

Emery’s team are up to third and just four points adrift the of the Gunners following Wednesday’s statement victory over champions Manchester City.

That made it a club-record equalling 14th successive home league win for Villa, with City boss Pep Guardiola even claiming they are capable of winning the title.

The Second City club currently sit on 32 points – the same number as Leicester had at this stage in their 5000/1 Premier League title-winning season.

Emery said: ‘It was amazing what they achieved in that moment.

Unai Emery believes Aston Villa fans are right to dream after the impressive start to the season

Leon Bailey’s late strike sealed Aston Villa’s win against Man City which took the Villains third

‘It is very difficult. We are going to do it our way and have our personality. We are going to build a team and in our style.

‘We must be consistent and the mentality is important and that is that there is still a lot of work to do.’

Asked if it is OK for fans to dream, Emery replied: ‘Of course, we have to dream always.

‘I am dreaming and sometimes my dreams are very important for me as it’s an aspiration to get my best.’

While a title bid might remain the stuff of dreams for now, the top four very much looks a realistic ambition with a five-point cushion over fifth-placed Tottenham now in hand.

But Emery insists Villa cannot afford to dwell on their memorable Manchester City triumph for too long and says where they are in the spring is the key.

He continued: ‘It is a big motivation to be praised for the work we are receiving.

‘Every praise is now important for us, but it is not to distract us in our objective.

‘We can wait until matchday 30 or 32 and if we are in the top four in that moment, I think we can then think maybe.

‘We will then be contenders to be there. We have to be focused. The match finished on Wednesday and we enjoyed that moment with supporters in Villa Park.’

It has been a sensational turnaround given Emery inherited a team facing a potential relegation battle when he arrived a little over a year ago.

Yet, despite that, Emery believes there is still more to come from – though he concedes their sternest test yet awaits his former club on Saturday.

He added: ‘I want to be – and it is my challenge every day – to be better today than yesterday and better tomorrow than today. I am not going to stop.

Emery believes Aston Villa will face their ‘biggest challenge’ of the season against Arsenal

The Spaniard managed at the Emirates from May 2018 until he was sacked in November 2019

‘It is to keep a balance too. We were playing very well against Manchester City but we must stay at this level.

‘We can remind ourselves the last match before Manchester City was against Bournemouth and we were very close to losing (after Ollie Watkins’ header earned a 1-1 draw).

‘Of course, Saturday is going to be difficult. We are confident at home and are feeling strong at Villa Park. Saturday is really the biggest challenge we are going to face yet.

‘We are against now the best team in this season in the Premier League. They are first in the table.’

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