Unai Emery has received at Aston Villa what Arsenal chose not to give him

Unai Emery admits his appointment as Arsenal manager came during a difficult period following the aftermath of Arsene Wenger's extensive time in charge. Emery, who has guided Aston Villa to the Champions League in his first full season at the club, following Europa Conference League qualification last season, spent 18 months at the Emirates after Wenger departed in 2018.

Results began to go pear shaped in the winter of 2019 and Emery was relieved of his duties, to be replaced by Mikel Arteta, the man who is currently at the Gunners' helm and who has led the club to successive second placed finishes behind serial champions Manchester City. Emery had hoped for a longer spell in charge in order to reverse the club's fortunes and lay down a platform for success - something Arteta has been afforded.

In an interview with Diario Vasco, Emery reflects on how his time in North London played out, although he reflects with satisfaction on the job he was able to conduct while in charge. What is abundantly clear is that Arsenal's decision to part with the Spaniard, years later, has been Villa's gain.

"They are two different periods," Emery said. "I arrived at Arsenal at a difficult time with the departure of Wenger. They were also in the process of the new stadium and had been out of the Champions League.

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"I needed some time to restructure it and put it back to the potential level that was Arsenal, which is one of the three strongest teams in the Premiership along with Liverpool and Manchester City. There is also Manchester United. I arrived looking for the place that belonged to it again and it's true that the process I did for a year and a half went well. Arteta is doing very well now."

Whether it be as Arsenal boss or Villa manager, Emery - who was wanted by Newcastle United prior to him agreeing to leave Villarreal for Villa in October 2022 - is very much enjoying his experience of the Premier League and the passion which is produced by supporters around the country for their respective clubs - Villa's fanbase, he adds, played a significant role on home soil in helping the club to complete an outstanding year of results in 2023.

"Well, understanding football in England is quite easy," he added. "English people, everyone, wherever they are from, from Birmingham, from London, depending on which part of London, from Coventry, from Newcastle, from Sunderland, from Norwich? They're from their team and they're going to see their team as something very much ingrained in them.

"Like a religious person going to mass on Sundays. Even on Mondays at 8pm, the grounds are practically full, each one in its own dimension. The fans are very loyal, very honest, very dedicated, very grateful.

"When you manage to concentrate on every home game through football, there is a positive energy that is generated in your own stadium, and if you organise it a little bit in footballing terms, then you are closer to getting things done. We were able to win 15 home games in a row because of the connection with the fans."

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