Ex-Premier League official reacts as Unai Emery issues public frustration with Arsenal announcement
Unai Emery has been left baffled by the Premier League fixtures ahead for his Aston Villa side.
Aston Villa travel to face Arsenal on Tuesday night, knowing that a win could take them level with the Gunners on 42 points, but behind on goal difference.
After that, the Villans return to home soil to face Nottingham Forest in the first encounter of what many will hope will be a successful 2026.
However, it is the encounter with the Gunners that has left Emery bemused at the scheduling from the Premier League.
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Aston Villa secured a 2-1 win against Arsenal on 6 December, with Matty Cash scoring the opener, and Emi Buendia scoring a dramatic 95th-minute winner to inflict only a second league defeat on the Gunners.
However, just over three weeks later, the two sides will face off against each other, with it being only the fourth time ever that Aston Villa have faced the same opponent in the same month.
When discussing the scheduling, Emery said: “The only thing I don’t understand is why we are playing after Arsenal, Nottingham Forest at home.
“The day 19 is not against Forest, which is the first half of the season. This is the only thing I don’t understand.“
However, Keith Hackett explained how he isnt likely to be the only Premier League manager to express his frustration at the fixture.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, he said: “Unai Emery and Aston Villa will not be the first manager or club to express some disappointment in the fixture scheduling.
“There is nothing sinister here; it is simply the difficulty fitting in fixtures with a fairly full calendar. UEFA, FIFA and television form part of the considerations.“
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If Aston Villa do the double over Arsenal, it will also be the first time they have ever beaten the same side twice in the same month.
However, to achieve that, Emery is going to need Ollie Watkins to build on the display that saw him guide his Villa side to victory against Chelsea last time out.
Thankfully, history suggests that the Englishman is capable of delivering at The Emirates, having scored four goals in five appearances away to the Gunners.
It’s the most an Aston Villa player has scored on their travels against Arsenal.
His most recent goal against the Gunners was back in January, when both he and Youri Tielemans were on the score sheet in a 2-2 draw.
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