ASTON VILLA are the surprise winners of the Premier League’s top four mini-table – sparking more second-class trolling from Arsenal.
Villa have picked up two points in the minor league based solely on results across the four Champions League ties.
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 behind City, one fan joked: “Arsenal are second everywhere.”
That could be difficult given the Gunners have achieved a respectable record of two wins and two draws in half a dozen elite Prem matches this season.
But both defeats against their top four rivals were inflicted by Villa – managed by their former manager, Unai Emery.
After winning 1-0 last December, the Villans’ 2-0 victory over the Emirates last month turned the tide of the title away from Arsenal and in favor of City.
Emery’s side also beat Pep Guardiola’s men 1-0 at home but then lost 4-1 at the Etihad on April 3.
In total, Villa finished with 10 points in the mini-league, with three wins, one draw and two defeats.
City have four points fewer – suggesting their success is based on relentless consistency against weaker teams.
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Most fans showed a lot of respect for Villa’s impressive achievement in impressing against top teams and securing fourth place in the full Prem table.
“Wow – they did so well this year!” said one observer.
Another said: “Yes, I have to give credit where credit is due. Villa have punched above their weight in big games.”
A third highlighted: “Man Utd are the only club to have beaten them home and away this season.”
But a fourth insisted: “Mini league champions… you will never sing that.”
Others were intrigued by City’s poor record against top four opponents.
One posted: “Man City winning the Premier League with just one win over the top four is all you need to know about how Pep turned this League into his farmhouse.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story