Aston Villa make their feelings clear about Newcastle United as Unai Emery speaks out

Newcastle United have been hailed as a 'contender' by Aston Villa boss Unai Emery.

Newcastle moved within just three points of Aston Villa, Chelsea and title-chasing Arsenal following an impressive 1-0 victory against the Gunners at St James' Park at the weekend. It was a timely reminder of what Newcastle can still do on their day following a five-game winless streak in the Premier League.

Aston Villa need no reminding of that, of course. Emery's team enjoyed a sensational campaign last season - deservedly qualifying for the Champions League - but Aston Villa lost home and away against Newcastle by an aggregate score line of 8-2.

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Both Newcastle and Aston Villa have managed to disrupt the established order by gate-crashing the top four in 2023 and 2024 respectively and Emery clearly expects the Magpies to be right up there once again this season.

"There are three very strong teams who are consistent like Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal but there are other contenders like Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle," he told Sky Sports. "We are there. They are top teams, seven teams, and we are more or less competing with them.

"Leicester won and when they won the Premier League was very difficult and maybe impossible for someone. This is a lesson. Nothing is impossible in football. You can dream and you can work hard to try and get it."

Interestingly, Howe also referenced Leicester City's title win in 2016 a couple of weeks ago when the Newcastle boss discussed 'outliers' and how the black-and-whites were going to have to 'buck the trend' once again.

"We're in a position now where we are not one of the top teams in terms of wage payers so we are going to have to be really smart and try and go against the grain again," he added.

"That's what we have always done and that's what we will continue to try to do. To do that, you have to be elite in every aspect of what you're doing - coaching, recruitment, all the little details that make the big differences. That's what we're going to have to do again."