ASTON VILLA are surprise winners of the Premier League top-four mini table – sparking more second-class trolling of Arsenal.
Villa romped home by two points in the tiny league based only on results between the four Champions League qualifiers.
The Gunners were runners-up in the six-game table, with Liverpool third and Prem leaders Manchester City BOTTOM.
And with Mikel Arteta’s men facing a second successive season as Prem runners-up to City, one fan joked: “Arsenal taking second everywhere.”
That might be harsh as the Gunners picked up a respectable haul of two wins and two draws from their half-dozen elite Prem matches this season.
But their two defeats against top-four rivals were both inflicted by Villa – managed by their old boss Unai Emery.
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After winning 1-0 last December, the Villans’ 2-0 victory at the Emirates last month turned the title tide away from Arsenal and in favour of City.
Emery’s side also beat Pep Guardiola’s men 1-0 at home but then crashed 4-1 at the Etihad on April 3.
In all, Villa finished with 10 points in the mini-league, with three wins, a draw and two losses.
City picked up four points less – suggesting their success is based on remorseless consistency against weaker sides.
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Most fans were full of respect for Villa’s stunning achievement of impressing against major sides and being guaranteed fourth spot in the full Prem table.
“Wow – they did so good this year!” said one observer.
Another claimed: “Yeah, gotta give credit where it’s due. Villa’s been punching above their weight in the big games.”
A third pointed out: “Man Utd are the only club that beat them home and away this season.”
But a fourth insisted: “Mini league champions… you’ll never sing that.”
Others were puzzled by City’s poor record against their top-four opponents.
One posted: “Man City winning the Premier league with only one win over the top 4 is all you need to know about how Pep has turned this League to his farm house.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
