Unai Emery now second favourite to be next Premier League manager sacked amid ‘brutal’ news
Aston Villa will face Fulham on Sunday ahead of a critical period for Unai Emery’s future at Villa Park.
Emery is under pressure at Villa, with his team failing to win any of their opening five games in the Premier League.
The Villans have struggled to find the net, with Matty Cash’s long-range strike against Sunderland last week marking his team’s first league goal of the season.
Villa beat Bologna 1-0 on Thursday, though, in a result that Emery will hope can fill his side with confidence ahead of a difficult run of games.
Games against Burnley, Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool follow the Fulham clash, for which Villa have been mooted as favourites for.
West Ham get rid of Graham Potter in latest Premier League sacking
There were empty seats spotted at Villa Park on Thursday’s match, underlining the feeling around Villa at the moment.
Emery’s impact upon his arrival in 2022 was incredible. The Spaniard transformed Villa, moulding them into the club that narrowly missed out on a second consecutive year in the Champions League at the end of last season.
But patience has worn thin this season, with the former Arsenal manager seemingly unwilling to turn away from players and tactics that are evidently not working.
| Aston Villa | Premier League 2025/26 | West Ham |
| 3 | Points | 3 |
| 1 | Scored | 5 |
| 5 | Conceded | 13 |
| 3.9 | Expected goals (xG) | 5 |
| 8.4 | Expected goals against (xGA) | 7.8 |
Decision-makers at Villa Park will be hesitant to rush into any major action, however, with the Villans’ form last season fresh in the memory.
The same cannot be said of West Ham, who sit 19th in the Premier League and below Villa on goal difference alone, with the club confirming the sacking of Graham Potter on Saturday.
The decision, described as “brutal” by the Daily Mail‘s Ian Ladyman, has also seen Nuno Espirito Santo named as the former Chelsea boss’ replacement.
Unai Emery second favourite for the boot after Graham Potter exit
According to BetVictor’s latest odds, Emery is now the second-favourite Premier League manager to next receive the sack, with previous favourite Potter having now left his position.
The Spaniard’s odds only trail to those of Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, who was on the end of a further damaging defeat on Saturday at Brentford.
Defeat to Fulham on Sunday could well see Emery become the favourite, however, with Villa set for a crucial run of Premier League games.
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