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Arsenal welcomed 'unimaginable' Aston Villa supervisor Unai Emery to the Premier League for the primary time on Sunday.
Who: Arsenal vs Aston Villa, Premier League
The place: Emirates Stadium, London
When: Sunday, April 14, 15:30 GMT
Head-to-head file: 202 video games – 87 wins for Arsenal, 70 for Aston Villa, 45 attracts
Aston Villa's progress below former Arsenal supervisor Unai Emery has been unimaginable, his successor on the Gunners, Mikel Arteta, mentioned forward of the Premier League conflict.
Sunday would be the first time Emery has confronted Arsenal's house followers since leaving the membership, along with his earlier go to as Villarreal supervisor in 2021 happening behind closed doorways as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
“What he has completed since Unai arrived has made a big impact on the membership by way of performances. They’re nonetheless in European competitors and performed (on Thursday). Actually impressed with what he has completed,” Arteta instructed reporters.
Villa completed seventh final season after Emery joined in October 2022, their first top-10 end since 2010–11. They’re now fifth on 60 factors and 11 factors behind leaders Arsenal.
Emery, 52, additionally accomplished 1,000 matches as a supervisor when Villa beat Lille 2-1 within the Europa Convention League quarter-final first leg on Thursday.
“Unimaginable. And he has completed it in many alternative nations and contexts,” Arteta mentioned.
“He’s from very near my hometown. I’ve nice admiration and respect for him. Want him all the perfect after Sunday.”
Arsenal has already fought towards the villains
Arsenal misplaced at Villa in October and, with Liverpool degree on factors and defending champions Manchester Metropolis a degree behind, Arteta harassed the necessity to deal with every match with out getting distracted by the title race.
“Each recreation will outline what our future will likely be like,” he mentioned. “The one factor potential is to see one recreation and in the future. As a result of it’s the solely factor that maintains your focus and determines the work you need to try this day.
In striker Ollie Watkins, who has been concerned in a league-high 28 objectives (18 objectives and 10 assists), Villa have a participant able to dashing Arsenal's hopes.
Certainly, Watkins is only one in need of equaling the membership file of 19 Premier League objectives set by Christian Benteke in 2012–13.
Douglas Luiz has been suspended after the midfielder obtained a tenth yellow card final weekend.
Matty Money and Clement Lenglet have returned to coaching and will function however Tyrone Mings, Jacob Ramsey, Boubacar Kamara and Emi Buendia are all nonetheless injured.
Al Jazeera Sport can have stay protection of each Arsenal and Liverpool's matches on Sunday, together with a four-hour build-up in addition to full textual content commentary and post-match reactions.