Arsenal have been sent a warning ahead of their blockbuster Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Saturday.
Few sides have been in better form than Unai Emery’s team over the last 12 months and underlined their status with a 1-0 win over Man City on Wednesday night.
The scoreline did not reflect the performance, with Villa playing Pep Guardiola’s team off the park.
Just two teams have taken more points in 2023 than Emery’s side, who have 75, and that is Arsenal [77] and Man City [83].
Villa Park is not a place teams want to go right now, with them winning their last 14 straight games. The definition of a fortress.
Next up to run the gauntlet in the midlands is Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal — who are currently top of the league.
“It’s a massive game,” Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor told talkSPORT.
“You know what’s bigger than the game as well? Unai Emery, it didn’t go well for him at Arsenal.
“He’s going to have a bee in his bonnet to say ‘you know what, I’m going to beat Arsenal’.
“If they play like they did against Man City, then it’s going to be one hell of a game.
“I don’t like to say Villa will win, I normally say draw, but the way they played yesterday and the energy at Villa Park… I had friends and family at the stadium and it was frightening.”
Emery was sacked by Arsenal in 2019 after 18 months in charge at the Emirates, having been tasked with the job of following Arsene Wenger.
Villa leapfrogged Man City after their 1-0 win and went up to third place, but Emery played down their title credentials.
«We are not contenders,» he said.
«There are seven teams who are contenders more than us. Now we are on game 15. We are going to play game 16 on Saturday against Arsenal and we are going to focus on it. We are happy to be third but to
Read on talksport.com