SEVILLE, SPAIN - DECEMBER 13: Unai Emery, Head Coach of Villarreal looks on during the La Liga Santander match between Real Betis and Villarreal CF at Estadio Benito Villamarin on December 13, 2020 in Seville, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Why Arsenal fans should hope Emery has strong Villa start

Oct 25, 2022

Aston Villa have appointed Unai Emery as their new head coach, and the former Arsenal manager will face Manchester United in his first two games.

VILLAREAL, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 13: Head coach Unai Emery of Villarreal CF reacts during the La Liga match between Villarreal CF and SD Huesca at Estadio de la Ceramica on September 13, 2020 in Villareal, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) — VILLAREAL, SPAIN: Head coach Unai Emery of Villarreal CF reacts during the La Liga match between Villarreal CF and SD Huesca at Estadio de la Ceramica on September 13, 2020. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

On Monday night, Aston Villa confirmed the appointment of Unai Emery as their new head coach. However, due to work permit formalities, Emery won’t officially take over until November 1st, meaning he’ll miss their next game away to Newcastle United.

According to reports, Villa decided to pay Emery’s €6m release clause to buy him out of his contract with Villarreal. Emery had won the Europa League with the Spanish club, defeating Manchester United in the final.

So perhaps it’s fitting that Emery will begin his Villa tenure with two games against Erik ten Hag’s United.

Villa host United on November 6th in the Premier League, their first game following Emery’s November 1st start date. Emery’s side will then travel away to Old Trafford four days later for a League Cup clash.

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Villa sit 15th in the Premier League, and they have a particularly difficult run coming up.

In addition to those matches against top-four hopefuls Newcastle United and Manchester United, they’ll then play Brighton, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur in consecutive fixtures.

Arsenal's French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi (L) and Arsenal's Spanish head coach Unai Emery attends a training session at the Baku Olympic Stadium in Baku on May 28, 2019 on the eve of the UEFA Europa League final football match between Chelsea and Arsenal. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) (Photo credit should read KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images) — Arsenal’s French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi (L) and Arsenal’s Spanish head coach Unai Emery attends a training session at the Baku Olympic Stadium in Baku on May 28, 2019. (Photo: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

From an Arsenal point of view, it would be great if Emery has a strong start to life with his new club.

The Gunners don’t face Villa again until mid-February, so an initial resurgence for the midlands side would only take points off Mikel Arteta’s rivals.

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