Keys tips Villa for the scrap, but doubts they’ve got the legs to finish it

Richard Keys has stuck his neck out: Aston Villa are absolutely in this title race. But the veteran broadcaster’s caveat is a familiar one — can Unai Emery’s men keep swinging when the fixtures pile up and the bench gets light?

In his latest column, Keys lauded Villa’s relentless surge and even floated the delicious prospect of Emery haunting his old employers by outpacing Arsenal themselves. It’s a tasty narrative, but he also served a dose of realism: the squad isn’t the deepest, and the margins at the top are brutal.

Why Villa’s surge is the real deal

Under Emery, Villa have become a side with a clear plan and the courage to execute it. They’re organised without the ball, calm with it, and fearless against the heavyweights. Results against top-four rivals have been more than a statement — they’ve been evidence that this isn’t a purple patch, it’s a programme.

There’s a swagger about their play now, but it’s underpinned by graft: compact distances, sharp pressing triggers, and calm build-up that draws teams on before slicing lines. On their day, they can bloody anyone’s nose — and they know it.

The depth dilemma Keys can’t ignore

Here’s the rub. Villa’s first XI stacks up brilliantly, yet the drop-off beyond the core starters is where a title bid can fray. Injuries, suspensions and a congested calendar — with European nights thrown into the mix — will test the seams of this squad.

Traditional title winners rotate without losing rhythm; Villa aren’t quite there for like-for-like cover in a few key roles. That’s not a slight, it’s a reality for an ambitious club still climbing. One untimely hamstring, one suspension, and the whole picture shifts.

Arsenal remain the pace-setters

As Keys pointed out, Arsenal look the better bet to go the distance. Mikel Arteta’s lot have depth across the park, tactical variety, and the scar tissue of last year’s run-in. That experience matters when April turns nervy and points are eked out rather than swept up.

Bottom line: Villa are live contenders, but Arsenal are still the favourites until someone proves otherwise.

VAR, officiating and the grind

Keys also took aim at the broader landscape — the inconsistency of officiating, the ongoing muddle with VAR, and the strain on squads fighting on multiple fronts. Fair points, all of them. The modern schedule is a war of attrition, and clarity from the officials would help everyone — players, managers and fans.

So, can Villa actually win it?

They’ve got a puncher’s chance and a top-class gaffer steering the ship. If the core stays fit and January/academy options offer a little insurance, they can keep their foot in the door deep into spring. Disrupting the race? Absolutely. Deciding it? Very possible. Lifting the trophy? That demands durability as much as dazzling football.

For those weighing up the title picture and form lines, our guide to betting sites uk is a useful starting point — but remember, this one could swing on the smallest details.

Emery versus Arsenal as the plot twist of the season is a lovely bit of theatre. But unless Villa add bodies or defy the usual rules of the run-in, it’s Arsenal who still look most likely to hold their nerve when it counts.