Unai Emery has said Tuesday night’s trip to Arsenal is Aston Villa’s “biggest challenge” yet, and Mikel Arteta may feel the same way about the visitors at the Emirates.
Emery’s Villa side have now won an astonishing 11 consecutive games, and the head coach was hailed as a “tactical genius” by Emery Watkins, who was part of the three substitutions that led to a come-from-behind victory over Chelsea on Saturday.
Villa were in dire straits for the first hour, but Emery found a way to change the narrative. In truth, their winning streak has been far from smooth sailing, with their opponents often scoring more than expected goals, but falling short of Villa.
But when Emery spoke about the resilience of his players after the game at Stamford Bridge, he underlined how this group has the mental fortitude to match their technical and tactical ability.
They have picked up 18 points from being out of position, more than any other team in the Premier League. This is a package compiled by Emery that makes them formidable.
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Emery dismissed suggestions that Watkins was a “genius” and told Sky Sports News in an exclusive pre-match interview: “Everything we do is because we have the potential to do it.”
“I have set the standards high and my players are holding them tight and they are making the most of their abilities.”
And the prospect will be a concern for Arsenal, who have shown a theme of letting things go in recent weeks. They conceded late goals against Crystal Palace and Wolves, and in their last game against Villa, Emi Buendia surprised the Premier League leaders with a last-minute winning goal.
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal.
The big challenge – or should it be an opportunity? – is for Villa to repeat their trick in north London. If they do so, they will be level on points with the Gunners at the top of the table. This would be a great way to end the year and sitting alongside Arsenal would be hugely important for the brand.
Villa have finally gone toe-to-toe with Arsenal in recent months. Like the Gunners, they have won their last 10 home games in a row. Like Arsenal, Villa can sometimes show their weaknesses, especially away from home.
In Villa’s last six Premier League games on the road, they have conceded the opening goal of the game and are relying on Emery’s ‘genius’ to turn the tide.
Conceding the first goal to one of the best defenders in the league could be a bridge too far for this Villa side. This will be the ultimate tactical test if the Spaniard really wants to take Villa’s side to the next level.
“I’m really excited to see how Arsenal are performing and how Arteta is working,” Emery said. “I want to compete at the highest level possible. This is it.”
The game is already full of emotion for Emery, who managed Arsenal in 2018-19. He was tasked with surviving the post-Arsene Wenger era, but things didn’t go well. There was always a sense that Emery went to the Emirates Stadium with a point to prove.
Emery’s 18-month stay at Arsenal didn’t go to plan
Some 18 months after leaving Arsenal, he defeated the Gunners and Arteta (whom the Gunners had chosen to replace him as head coach) in the Europa League semi-final against Villarreal.
It was a devastating blow for Arteta in his early days as Arsenal’s north London manager, ending his prospects of playing in European football next season. Emery could be a detrimental setback at a time when Arsenal appear to be reaching their peak under his successor.
His previous win in April 2024 dealt significant damage to Arsenal’s title hopes that season, but it also all but sealed Villa’s Champions League qualification for the following season.
He found himself in a different position to be able to inflict further damage on Tuesday – and, as he said, at the same time raise Villa’s and their own ambitions.
Emery’s record against Arteta is encouraging for Villa. In eight meetings with Arteta, he has won just two.
Mikel Arteta has a poor record against Unai Emery
But whether he and his team can outperform Arteta and Arsenal over 38 games rather than just two games is another question.
Emery has been quick to play down talk of his team being in the title race, and the suspensions of Matty Cash and Boubakar Kamara have raised questions about how much depth Villa have at their disposal to truly pursue this title dream while fulfilling their European and cup responsibilities. January may be important.
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Emery doesn’t want to discuss Villa being title contenders
However, it’s also worth pointing out that the last time Villa were without Kamara and Cash in a Premier League game was the win at Arsenal in 2024. It’s not an impossible feat.
Indeed, the lesson from Villa’s come-from-behind victory over Chelsea, where they couldn’t even get a shot in the first half, is that they have the ability to find a way to win no matter the situation.
“We have to be humble, but we also have to be ambitious,” Emery said. “You have to show some arrogance and tell everyone, ‘I’m here, we’re here.'”
Villa will do that with a win and performance at home to favorites.
Tuesday, December 30th 6:30pm
8:15pm kickoff
Watch Arsenal vs Aston Villa live on Sky Sports Premier League on Tuesdays at 6.30pm kick-off and 8.15pm kick-off
