Aston Villa's Title Chances: Collymore Weighs In on Premier League Prospects

Aston Villa head into their home match against Everton this weekend sitting in third place in the Premier League, following a commendable season that has brought them close to the top of the table.

The team achieved an impressive 12 victories out of 13 matches between late September and December, positioning themselves in a tough competition with Arsenal and Manchester City.

Although a recent 4-1 defeat to Arsenal and a draw against Crystal Palace have set them six points adrift of the leaders, Villa remains locked on points with City and has an eight-point cushion ahead of fourth-placed Liverpool.

Collymore's Perspective on Villa's Ambitions

Despite their solid standing, former Villa striker Stan Collymore, an ardent supporter of the club, expressed doubts about Villa's chances to clinch the title this season.

“As a fan and a pundit, I believe both Villa and Unai Emery must focus on securing their top four spot,” Collymore stated. “If offered a fourth-place finish on the final day, I think he’d gladly accept it.”

Collymore further highlighted that Villa's resources pale in comparison to those of competing teams who have numerous senior internationals available on the bench.

“For me, they will be more concerned with keeping pace with Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Spurs rather than concentrating on Arsenal at this moment,” he said.

Addressing Midfield Concerns

Villa is reportedly pursuing striker Tammy Abraham, who previously enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at the club. Collymore emphasized the need for additional options in the midfield, especially with Boubacar Kamara working his way back from injury.

“Villa's inability to spend the extra 10 or 15 million euros on Conor Gallagher highlights the club's current limitations,” Collymore noted, elaborating on Villa's missed opportunity to bolster their squad.

“With Kamara out and players like McGinn and Tielemans playing significant minutes, a fresh midfield option is necessary,” he added. “They need depth to sustain their performance levels, as evidenced during recent matches where fatigue became evident.”