Unai Emery has Arsenal score to settle with surging Aston Villa

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Aston Villas Spanish manager Unai Emery reacting during the 2-1 English Premier League win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in London on Dec 27, 2025.

PHOTO: AFP

LONDON – Unai Emery returns to the scene of one of his few managerial failures on Dec 30, aiming to land a huge blow to former club Arsenal’s ambitions of a first English Premier League title for 22 years.

Dismissed by the Gunners in 2019 just over a year after succeeding Arsene Wenger, Emery’s second spell in English football has been a very different story.

The Spaniard has awoken a sleeping giant in Villa, transforming the Birmingham-based club from battling relegation to contending for their first league title since 1981.

An impressive 2-1 win at Chelsea on Dec 27 extended Villa’s winning run in all competitions to 11 – their longest streak of victories since 1914.

That form has taken Emery’s men to within three points of Arsenal at the top of the table, despite failing to win any of their opening six matches of the season.

“We are competing very well. We are third in the league behind Arsenal and Manchester City. Wow,” said Emery after he masterminded a second half turnaround at Stamford Bridge on Dec 27.

Villa were outclassed by the Blues and trailing 1-0 until a triple substitution on the hour mark changed the game.

Ollie Watkins came off the bench to score twice and hailed his manager’s change of system as “tactical genius” afterwards.

Few believe Villa will still