Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has sent Arsenal a firm ‘no way’ statement ahead of his team’s trip to Emirates Stadium for a Premier League clash this Sunday afternoon.
The Villans will look to do the double over the Gunners when they visit north London. Aston Villa have not won home and away against Arsenal in the Premier League since the 2020/21 season. It was only their second double over the capital club since the debut 1992/93 term.
John McGinn handed Aston Villa their 1-0 win over Arsenal when the two teams met back in December. He fired his shot straight at goalkeeper David Raya after turning Ben White inside the Gunners’ box. It ended Arsenal’s run of four-straight league wins against the Villans, too.
Unai Emery says Arsenal will ‘no way’ influence Aston Villa’s UEFA clash with LOSC Lille
Arsenal will bid to avoid a repeat defeat when Aston Villa visit Emirates Stadium this Sunday with Mikel Arteta’s side atop the Premier League table ahead of Emery’s latest return. Aston Villa also need the three points as they push to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
But Emery sees no merits in Aston Villa focusing on Arsenal yet with the Birmingham natives hosting LOSC Lille on Thursday. The Ligue 1 side visit Villa Park in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final, and Emery is firm that Arsenal will not influence his plans.
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Emery said, via football.london: “No way. We are speaking about the match tomorrow in the Europa Conference League. We are not thinking about the match we are going to play. No way. It is not good for us, for me or everybody. I want to focus on the match tomorrow only.”
Mikel Arteta will want every advantage Arsenal can find against Aston Villa
Arteta will be glad to hear Emery is giving Lille his full focus and not planning for the first leg with Aston Villa’s game at Arsenal in mind. The Villans have been inconsistent in the Premier League of late. But the Birmingham outfit gave the Gunners a real test in December’s match.
Arsenal struggled to break through Aston Villa in December and may also still feel aggrieved that Kai Havertz’s late equaliser was ruled out over a controversial handball. So, Lille taking Aston Villa to or beyond their limits ahead of visiting north London could give an advantage.
The capital club will want every advantage they can find, as well, as Arteta will want to turn Arsenal’s focus to Wednesday’s trip to Bayern Munich as early as possible. Der FCB host the Gunners in Bavaria for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final level at 2-2.