Unai Emery joins Aston Villa as ‘wiser’ manager following ‘bruising spell’ at Arsenal – Guillem Balague
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague insists Unai Emery joins Aston Villa as a vastly improved manager since his sacking at Arsenal.
Emery was appointed as Steven Gerrard’s successor this week, marking his return to the Premier League three years after he was dismissed at Arsenal.
Following his Gunners exit, Emery joined Spanish outfit Villarreal and he now returns to the Premier League with a fourth Europa League title under his belt.
After being hounded out of north London, Balague insists Emery has hugely improved as a manager and has a point to prove at Villa.
Via his BBC column, Balague wrote: “The Spaniard now sets out on his latest mission to prove just how good he can be when given a proper chance, something he always felt was denied him at Arsenal.
“He comes to Aston Villa a wiser, older man, better prepared following his bruising spell at Emirates Stadium, revitalised by his success at Villarreal and raring to go to help reignite the fortunes of a massive club.”
Second chance
It seems Emery was waiting for a good second chance to return to the Premier League. He clearly didn’t fancy joining Newcastle United in the summer, yet was easily convinced to buy into the project at Villa Park.
That’s certainly an exciting prospect for Villa fans, especially considering how appealing Newcastle are on paper after their Saudi-backed takeover.
It proves Villa are still a major player in the European landscape and can lure top targets to Villa Park thanks to the size of the club.
With a top-class manager now at the helm, Villa can finally start pushing on towards their long-term goals. Top-half finishes are essential, and eventually, Villa need to start stamping their mark on European competitions.
When it comes to making a mark in Europe, Villa couldn’t have hired anyone better. Emery’s record in Europe is remarkable – even with Arsenal – and he’ll be keen to improve on that during his time at Villa Park.
Hopefully the board back Emery and allow him more control than he was granted with Arsenal. Should they do that, there’s no reason he can’t thrive in the West Midlands.
In other Aston Villa news, Guillem Balague says Unai Emery was urged to take the Aston Villa job by his son