Emery ready to drive a dagger through the heart of Arsenal's ambitions

Unai Emery is ready to drive a dagger through the heart of Arsenal’s title ambitions when the two meet at Villa Park on Saturday… in much the same way as they treated him when he was sacked in 2019

• Unai Emery will be hoping to get one over on his former club Arsenal on Saturday
• The Spaniard has become one of Europe’s most astute coaches since his sacking
• Mikel Arteta urges the league to scrap short turnarounds ahead of Villa clash

Standing in the way of Arsenal resuscitating their faltering title surge on Saturday will be a familiar face.

When Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery embraces Mikel Arteta – the man who took his job at the Emirates Stadium – he’ll do so knowing he can strike a dagger through the heart of his former club’s ambitions in a manner not too dissimilar to what Arsenal did to him on November 28, 2019.

Emery has recovered from his sacking as Gunners boss to rebuild a reputation as one of Europe’s most astute coaches.

If the Spaniard can mastermind victory versus his old team at Villa Park, there are no guarantees Arsenal’s championship dream will make such a recovery.

Since abruptly leaving north London following a 2-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League – a competition he subsequently won with Villarreal the very next season – Emery’s stock has risen.

Standing in the way of Arsenal resuscitating their title surge on Saturday lunchtime is a familiar face

Emery can inflict more damage on Arsenal and Arteta, who succeeded him as Gunners boss

Last year he led the Spanish outfit to a Champions League semi-final, eventually losing to Liverpool.

But victories over Juventus and Bayern Munich en route to the final four were tantamount to redemption for Emery.

Had Newcastle had their way, he’d have been Steve Bruce’s successor at St James’ Park well before Villarreal had even claimed those illustrious scalps.

Truth be told, Emery fancied the Toon job. But he’s a man of honour and hated the fact news of his potential arrival on Tyneside had been leaked just hours before a Champions League clash against Young Boys.

The added complication of Newcastle wanting to include a relegation termination clause in his contact also didn’t sit well; but it was the overshadowing of Villarreal’s match preparations as a result of the speculation over his future that really irritated Emery.

That will come as no surprise to Arsenal, as much as he’d lost the dressing room during the final weeks of his reign he was always honest and dignified.

Newcastle are unlikely to regret the episode – they eventually turned to Eddie Howe and the rest is history.

The same can’t be said for Leeds, however. Had the Elland Road side taken a decision to sack Jesse Marsch much sooner than they did, it is understood that Emery was among their preferred options to become new head coach.

Only Emery knows if he has happy memories of his 18 months at Arsenal but his departure came with shock and sadness from the squad

The disappointing nature of Leeds managerial search suggests they may have benefitted from acting sooner.

EVERYONE WANTS US TO WIN THE TITLE, INSISTS ARTETA

BY DANIEL MATTHEWS 

Mikel Arteta believes most neutrals want Arsenal to pip Manchester City to the Premier League title.

Arteta’s side were top of the table for months until their 3-1 defeat by City on Wednesday saw them move ahead on goal difference.

The Spaniard was asked if more rival fans want Arsenal to win the title than City and said: ‘That I agree with. People have a lot of sympathy for us, our players and the way we have done things. Before the season, if you had to bet on someone, I think a lot of people would have done something different.’

Arsenal, who visit Aston Villa on Saturday, still have a game in hand on City but a four-match winless run has seen their lead evaporate.

‘I don’t think we have ever been favourites,’ Arteta insisted. ‘City have been the No 1 candidates from day one because they have been in that position for much of the last five years.’

Who knows if he would have accepted the challenge at Elland Road, though the fact he continued taking English lessons after his sacking at Arsenal suggests he always knew he had unfinished business in England.

It remains to be seen what lessons Emery has taken from his ill-fated spell at Arsenal and how he can implement that into reviving one of English football’s great institutions.

There were sections of the Arsenal squad, and backroom team for that matter, who found Emery irritating and uncharismatic.

Perhaps that is slightly unfair; Arsene Wenger’s undeniable charm is a tough act to follow.

That said, Emery could have done more in trying to endear himself to those around him.

He was insular, largely disconnected with many that he shared a training ground with on a daily basis.

He kept mainly within his inner circle of Juan Carlos Carcedo, Pablo Villanueva and Victor Manas.

That doesn’t do much for team spirit. The negativity filtered through to the players, who by the end of his reign were firing off text messages to each other predicting when Emery may finally go.

When the going gets tough, players can often be the first to turn; that appeared to be the case for Emery.

By the end, the coach didn’t have the answers. His tactics were being questioned, his shape sessions were leaving players uninspired and his detailed video analysis meetings were leaving the squad bemused.

When the Arsenal squad were ushered into a morning meeting to be informed of Emery’s departure there was little shock. There was certainly little sadness.

Saturday’s showdown will be his first with Arsenal as a manager in the Premier League

Does Emery have fond memories of his 18 months at Arsenal? Only he can really answer that – but you couldn’t blame him if it’s a chapter of his career he’d rather not revisit.

So when he faces Arsenal for the first time as an opposing Premier League manager on Saturday it would be entirely understandable if there’s an extra steel in Emery’s eye; slightly more purpose in his step.

He’ll say he has nothing to prove; maybe he hasn’t.

But leading Villa to victory and damaging Arsenal’s title ambitions will definitely be on his agenda this afternoon. 

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