Arsenal v Aston Villa: Unai Emery plays down return as Arteta sings his praises

Emery returns to the Gunners for the first time as a Premier League boss to find his old club sitting top of the standings as the season enters its final weeks.

“It’s not really something more than playing against them, with the difficulty we are going to face and respecting them.” Still, for all Villa’s impressive advances, this trip to the Emirates arrives at a point their season is experiencing the kind of wobble to conjure unwelcome echoes, both of the clubs last serious challenge for Champions League football and Emery’s only full season at the helm of Arsenal, when they lost four of the last seven matches to miss out on a top four finish.

Emery, who has kept Villa in contention for the top-four finish despite a series of injuries, was at pains to point out this match will be played in a very different context to that of December, which came less than 72 hours after his team had beaten champions Manchester City. “We respect them and of course play the match thinking there is an opportunity to get something, some points or even thinking we can beat them.

United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Unai Emery warns Aston Villa favourites tag means nothing ahead of Ajax testUnai Emery has warned Villa the favourites tag means nothing as they aim to beat Ajax tonight and keep their trophy dream alive.
Source: ShropshireStar - 🏆 98. / 51 Read more »

Ollie Watkins goes off injured during Aston Villa win but Unai Emery issues encouraging update...Darren Bent believes that Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins should be named the Premier League player of the season
Source: talkSPORT - 🏆 91. / 53 Read more »

Unai Emery refuses to make Aston Villa call after draw against West HamUnai Emery hailed an important point for Villa at West Ham – but refused to call his team contenders for a top-four Premier League finish.
Source: ShropshireStar - 🏆 98. / 51 Read more »

Aston Villa forward believes Unai Emery should be compared to the very bestNicolo Zaniolo believes Unai Emery is on par with Pep Guardiola and the world’s best coaches despite frustration at his lack of playing time at Villa.
Source: ShropshireStar - 🏆 98. / 51 Read more »

Aston Villa ready to accept Leander Dendoncker bid as Unai Emery makes decisionThe inside track on the football stories that matter
Source: footyinsider247 - 🏆 53. / 63 Read more »

Why Bayern Munich want Unai Emery – and how Aston Villa should respondEmery may have to ask himself whether it is worth swapping his strong and stable position at Villa for potential chaos at Bayern
Source: i newspaper - 🏆 8. / 89 Read more »