Unai Emery was the initial choice for Arsenal when Arsene Wenger departed the club in 2018.
The Spaniard arrived at the Emirates with a solid reputation in European football, having previously won the French Ligue 1 title with PSG.
However, his tenure at Arsenal lasted only 18 months before he lost the support of the dressing room, leading to his departure and the appointment of Mikel Arteta as his successor.
Now, Emery finds himself back in the Premier League as the manager of Aston Villa. His tenure with Villa has been marked by impressive results, guiding the team to a position in the top five of the league table.
Emery’s next challenge comes against his former club, Arsenal, as Villa aims to disrupt Arsenal’s pursuit of the Premier League title. It will be a return to familiar territory for Emery, who will be eager to leave his mark at his old stomping ground.
Emery knows the ground very well, but will it be an advantage for his team? The Spaniard said to Aston Villa Media:
“Not really, I think it’s a different context, different circumstances.
“It’s not really something more than playing against them, with the difficultly we are going to face and respecting them.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
We have to be prepared well for Villa’s visit, not because Emery has worked for us before, but because his team is very good and can defeat us if we are not at our best.
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I am not aware , as seems to be the implication in this piece, that anybody at all, let alone Emery, HAD even suggested that Emery has an advantage in having managed the team almost four and a half long and changing years ago.
Of course it is NOT an advantage just as Emery rightly says.
Even the hint of a suggestion that it could be, is ridiculous!
The absence of Douglas Luiz will makes life more difficult for Emery and his boys, his outfit does pose an attacking threat.
But Arsenal is expected to resume winning ways when the Villans comes to town.
Arsenal just have to win this game to keep the momentum and high hopes alive and healthy.
The burden of knowing our opponents’ results ( which will likely be in their favour) should not pose too much pressure on the players. The Emirates crowd must be at their supportive loudest even if (especially if) things seem not to be going well on the pitch.
Can’t wait for this one. I see a revenge similar to the one handed out to Newcastle. That would be most heart-warming.