Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery is set to begin his second reign as a Premier League manager with Aston Villa this weekend as they face Manchester United. The Spanish coach succeeded long-time servant of the Gunners Arsene Wenger ahead of 2018/19 season, but was relieved of his duties just 18 months later.
Emery faced a lot of criticism through his tenure as Arsenal manager, despite achieving the club's highest points tally of the last four seasons of 70 in the 18/19 season and taking the Gunners to the final of the Europa League that same year, although they were comfortably beaten by London rivals Chelsea.
After achieving previous success with Sevilla and Valencia, Emery returned to his home country as manager of Villareal and was able win the 2020/21 Europa League and in the following season against all odds reached the Champions League semi finals before losing out to Liverpool.
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Emery has enjoyed success down most avenues that his managerial career has taken but the blip on his CV was how things went in the Premier League. That has enticed him back to England after Aston Villa approached him last month following their sacking of Steven Gerrard.
Work permit issues prevented Emery from taking charge against Newcastle United last weekend but he is set to make his bow in the Villa dugout on Sunday as they welcome Manchester United to Villa Park and in his pre-match press conference he was asked about what he learnt during his first spell in England.
As quoted by Birmingham Live: "I learned a lot, overall each team they gave us some experiences playing against them when I was in Arsenal and I learned as well playing in Europe 15 years in a row, playing against a lot of English teams and as a coach I am now 51 years old and my experiences, I think too in Spain, France, Premier League.
"I have played against a lot of teams in the word and the English teams are a big challenge because the Premier League is maybe the first league in the world."
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