Emery response to 'being delighted to get one over ex-club Arsenal'

Unai Emery was in no mood to stick the boot in to ex-side Arsenal after current outfit Aston Villa enjoyed a shock 2-0 win at the Emirates on Sunday.

The Villa boss spent 18 months at the helm of the Gunners from May 2018 until he was sacked from his post in November 2019 after a particularly dismal run of form. Just shy of three years on from his Arsenal dismissal, the Spaniard returned to the Premier League to succeed Steven Gerrard at Villa Park.

Emery has established himself as a firm fan favourite among the Villa faithful, transforming the club's fortunes and guiding them to Champions League qualification contenders. As things stand, it remains up in the air whether fifth-place in the Premier League will be enough to secure a place in European club football's most prestigious competition next term.

In turn, those vying for qualification should be aiming for fourth to be on the safe side and it is Emery's side who currently occupy it. They even boast a three-point advantage over nearest challengers Tottenham, but have played one game more than the north Londoners.

Amid all the celebrations in the aftermath of their win at Arsenal thanks to late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins, Emery remained respectful of his former side. The Spaniard did not use his post-match media duties as a chance to revel in their misery.

Asked after the game whether it felt like he'd got one over on his old team, the Spaniard told Sky Sports: "No, it is not how the match is. It is for Aston Villa, it's because we had 60 points and with those points we have 63.

"We are closer to being in the top five, this is the only motive I had before the match. Of course, Arsenal to win here it is very difficult because they are doing an amazing season