Aston Villa boss - and former Arsenal chief - Unai Emery could derail another North London Premier League title bid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night - just like in 2024
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery will bid to win his 12th consecutive game for Aston Villa on Tuesday night
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(Image: PA)
Unai Emery has insisted he feels no emotion on his Emirates Stadium return as he bids to shatter another Arsenal title dream. “Now my heart is Aston Villa,” he said on the eve of Tuesday night's major title showdown.
The Spaniard never came close to winning the Premier League during his unhappy 18 months in North London - and still insists his Aston Villa are not challengers now. But Emery effectively ended his former club’s title challenge with a win at the Emirates in April 2024 with a typical tactical masterclass crowned by two late goals.
And after ending the Gunners’ 17-match unbeaten run at Villa Park earlier this month, Emery’s team can deal another huge blow to the North London club’s Premier League tilt on Tuesday night.
Asked if he felt emotional returning to Arsenal, the Villa boss stated: “No because after 20 years I have coached in different clubs in Spain, England, even Russia and Paris. When I am coming back to play the teams I coached before, for me, it is one match more. It is not about anything else. I want to win because my responsibility and all energy is to do my best work for our fans.
“My heart is with San Sebastian, Real Union and Sociedad. The other clubs I have coached, my heart is part of them. Now, my heart is Aston Villa. Everything I am doing is trying to get the best for our fans, the owners, the players and our coaches. “
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 6: Aston Villa manager Unai Emery celebrates the late winning goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park on December 6, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Unai Emery celebrates Aston Villa's late winner against Arsenal on December 6
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(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
A 12th consecutive Villa victory - and back-to-back away wins over Chelsea and Arsenal - would draw his latest club level on points with the Gunners at the season’s halfway point. And the former Seville, PSG and Villareal manager - who became a bit of a joke at Arsenal before he was replaced by Arteta in 2019 - would be a serious title contender whether he admits it or not. The four-time Europa League winner has the form team in Europe.
His fellow Basque Arteta, who never hides his emotions on the touchline, claimed he wants Arsenal to make Villa “suffer” at the Emirates after watching a video nasty of the “cruel” December 6 defeat in the West Midlands.
Mikel Arteta wants Aston Villa to "suffer" when they visit the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening
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(Image: PA)
“We'll watch it back, I have a few ideas and things that we have to do better, and it was quite cruel as well the way we lost it, but yeah, we learned from it,” he said. “It can be good if you use that motivation and that hunger in the right manner.”
Arsenal have won six consecutive Premier League home games but have not beaten a top-five team yet. And they have benefitted from four own goals in the last three unconvincing matches at the Emirates, including in the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace and the weekend 2-1 win over Brighton.
“Well, that's what we want, that every opponent that comes here suffers, and we are as dominant as we were today for the majority of the game and against Villa,” Arteta said.
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins scored twice at Chelsea as Aston Villa won their 11th consecutive match in all competitions
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(Image: David Watts/Getty Images)
Emery, who named Arsenal as his title “favourites”, is expecting a backlash in the clash between two injury-hit sides. "Tomorrow is probably the most difficult challenge we can face because they are the best team,” he said.
And the Spaniard, who won the Ligue 1 title with Paris-Saint Germain in 2018, said of Villa’s chances: “Speaking about the title for me does not make sense for us. Now, in December.”
But Emery, now 54 and starting to grey, added: “Dreams are free. Everyone has to dream. I have my dream and I am here getting my dream. My huge dream here or as a coach is to win the Champions League. That is my dream, all my life.
“In each moment, I am realistic. The only dream I have now is tomorrow’s match. There are a lot of ways of where we want to get. But now, there is only tomorrow. After tomorrow, we will see.”
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