On Tuesday, Unai Emery makes his first managerial failure appearance and aims to sever a significant blow to former Premier League champion Arsenal’s long-awaited goal of winning the first title in 22 years.
Emery’s second season in English football was a completely different story. He was dismissed by the Gunners in 2019.
The Spaniard has awakened a slumbering Villa fan, turning the Birmingham-based club from battling relegation to defending their first league title since 1981.
Villa’s winning streak at all levels now stands at 11, which is their longest winning streak since 1914, with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Saturday.
Despite failing to win any of their first six matches of the season, Emery’s men are now three points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table.
“We are doing a very good job.” We are third in the league, trailing only Manchester City and Arsenal at the same time. Emery commanded admiration after he orchestrated a second-half turnaround at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
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Before the Blues’ triple substitution at the hour mark changed the game, Villa were ahead 1-0.
Ollie Watkins praised his manager’s switch of system as “tactical genius” after he came off the bench to score twice.
Few people think Villa will be able to survive 20 more games against Arsenal and City’s much greater wealth and squad depth.
However, a title challenge is only the start of a trend that has grown since Emery took over as leader more than three years ago.
The Villains have qualified for continental competition for the past three years following a 13-year absence from Europe, which included a three-year stint in the second-tier championship.
Paris Saint-Germain reached the Champions League quarter-finals with a score of 5-4 overall in Villa Park in April, but they were out of luck. This was their first major success.
Birmingham was also defeated earlier this month by Arsenal, who have lost just once in their last 24 games overall.
However, it’s frequently seen that Emery triumphs over his former employers.
In 10 meetings against Arsenal, the 54-year-old has lost just twice, including a 2-0 victory at the Emirates in April 2024, which ultimately cost Mikel Arteta’s men the title.
Even with the benefit of retrospective observation, Emery’s disastrous 18 months in north London were not at all disastrous.
In his final year in charge, he inherited a club that was in decline during Wenger’s final years, but he only managed to make it a close call for Champions League qualification in the Europa League final.
Villa’s advantage has been lost at Arsenal.
Arsenal will continue to be the outsiders in a three-horse race for the time being, but Emery’s men will put an end to any doubters who think they are serious contenders.
Source: Channels TV
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