Unai Emery did not know it at the time but by watching Peaky Blinders when he arrived at Arsenal to help him learn English he was already taking steps to feel at home at Aston Villa four years later. Emery broke into a broad smile when reminded of that admission in an ornate lounge overlooking the pitch at Villa Park on Friday, in the city that is home to the crime drama. “I am ambitious as well and I prefer to use difficult series to improve,” he says. “I think I can understand better the Birmingham history with these movies.”
Emery was sacked by Arsenal after 18 months despite finishing fifth and with a 55% win rate. Emery insists the English top flight has not changed too much since he left in November 2019 but that he is better prepared for taking on the Premier League, after enjoying further success with Villarreal. “They are here the best coaches, they are here the best players, and I think the pace is amazing,” Emery says. “The football is going so quickly, changing a lot, and we have to be able as well [to adapt] so quickly … and I think now I am more ready than the first time.”
