Boss Unai Emery admitted Aston Villa got lucky after fighting back to beat AZ Alkmaar.Ollie Watkins’ winner put them on the brink of qualification in the Europa Conference League after a 2-1 home win.Yet, the fightback started in controversial fashion when Diego Carlos levelled after Boubacar Kamara had blazed over and referee Luis Godinho mistakenly awarded Villa a corner.European nights ...Full Story »

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery knows his side missed the opportunity to show they can be contenders at the top end of the Premier League after going down 2-0 at Nottingham Forest.Villa were below their best as they lost for the first time in six games as Forest won thanks to goals from Ola Aina and Orel Mangala.Emery’s side, who have enjoyed an excellent start to the season, could have moved ...Full Story »

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes his side can be top-four contenders this season if they continue their remarkable progression.Villa have improved exponentially under the Spaniard’s regime and posted a 12th successive Premier League home win after they beat Luton 3-1 at Villa Park.Goals from John McGinn and Moussa Diaby gave them the upper hand before Luton captain Tom Lockyer put thro...Full Story »

Boss Unai Emery believes Aston Villa proved their European credentials after an emphatic 4-1 win at AZ Alkmaar.Leon Bailey, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins and John McGinn struck as dominant Villa cruised to victory in the Europa Conference League.It was a second 4-1 win in two games – following Sunday’s victory over West Ham – and Villa earned successive Group E triumphs after ...Full Story »

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery played down his side’s Champions League credentials despite thrashing West Ham.Villa are just two points off Premier League pacesetters Manchester City and Arsenal following Sunday’s 4-1 win.Douglas Luiz’s double and clinical finishes from Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey ended Villa’s Hammers hoodoo, for their first victory over West Ham since 20...Full Story »

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil defused any tension after Unai Emery left without a handshake.The Aston Villa manager walked down the tunnel after Sunday’s 1-1 draw while O’Neil spoke to the fourth official at full time.Pau Torres had quickly cancelled out Hwang Hee-Chan’s second-half opener as Villa missed the chance to move into the Premier League’s top four.Ollie Watkins...Full Story »

Boss Unai Emery insists Aston Villa’s 1-0 win over Zrinjski Mostar proves why their European rivals must be respected.John McGinn’s added-time header saved Villa’s skins in the Europa Conference League.Mostar, who beat AZ Alkmaar 4-3 last month, defended heroically and were two minutes away from a battling point at Villa Park.A captain''s performance. 👊 pic.twitter.com/...Full Story »

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery feels there is a special atmosphere brewing at Villa Park after his side romped to a remarkable 6-1 win against Brighton.A hat-trick from Ollie Watkins and further strikes from Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz, as well as Pervis Estupinan’s own goal, helped Emery’s side secure a 10th successive league win at home.Despite Brighton’s Ansu Fati briefly red...Full Story »

Man City might sign Zaire-Emery from PSG Warren Zaire-Emery PSG Manchester City is reportedly exploring a swap deal that involves sending Bernardo Silva to PSG and acquiring Warren Zaire-Emery from the French club, as per RMC Sport. Zaire-Emery, a 17-year-old midfielder, has been a notable presence in PSG's Ligue 1 games this season and the Parisians are looking to extend the youngster's cont...Full Story »

Unai Emery insists Aston Villa must learn how to handle European football and refused to blame his changes after their sloppy 3-2 defeat at Legia Warsaw.Ernest Muci’s second-half winner clinched a deserved victory for the hosts to ruin Villa’s Europa Conference League debut.Jhon Duran and Lucas Digne twice levelled for the underwhelming visitors in the first half after Pawel Wszolek ...Full Story »

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery said it was mission accomplished after his side cruised into the European Conference League group stage with an 8-0 aggregate win against Hibernian.Villa were 5-0 up from a resounding win in Edinburgh last week and completed formalities in the second leg as first-half goals from Jhon Duran and Leon Bailey put them out of sight.Substitute Matty Cash sealed a 3-0 win on...Full Story »

Unai Emery praised the versatility of Matty Cash after the Poland international’s first Aston Villa goals in over a year helped them to a 3-1 win at Burnley.There was speculation Cash could be on his way out of Villa Park this summer, but the 26-year-old showed what an asset he can be with two goals in the opening 20 minutes of his 100th Villa appearance, twice threatening to make it a hat...Full Story »

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery saluted skipper John McGinn after his side brushed aside Everton 4-0 for their first Premier League win of the season.McGinn slammed home Leon Bailey’s cross to give Villa a first-half lead before Douglas Luiz’s penalty and goals in the second period from Bailey and substitute Jhon Duran completed an easy victory.Emery said of his captain: “I’m...Full Story »

Unai Emery toasted Aston Villa’s “champagne moment” after they qualified for Europe for the first time since 2010.The manager has sparked a turnaround at Villa Park having been appointed in October, after the club sacked Steven Gerrard sitting three points above the relegation zone.Sunday’s 2-1 win over Brighton – who had already qualified for the Europa League &nda...Full Story »

Unai Emery has emphasised the importance of the games ahead as Aston Villa and their fans dream of a return to Europe following the 1-0 home win over Fulham.The result, sealed by Tyrone Mings’ 21st-minute header for the eighth victory of a 10-match unbeaten run, saw Villa move up to fifth place in the Premier League.They are a point above Tottenham, who host fourth-placed Manchester U...Full Story »

Unai Emery admitted Aston Villa got more than they deserved after snatching a late point in a 1-1 draw at Brentford.The Bees dominated the clash in west London and were leading through Ivan Toney’s 20th goal of the season.But they were pegged back two minutes from the end after Douglas Luiz lashed the ball home following a frantic goalmouth scramble.“I usually analyse the match tryin...Full Story »

The ambitious Villans are targeting a move that would see Smith Rowe reunite with Unai Emery, the manager that handed him his Gunners debut. Emile Smith Rowe is yet to start a Premier League game this season Credit: Getty Villa tried to sign Smith Rowe in the summer of 2021, having a £30million bid rejected by Mikel Arteta's side. According to talkSPORT, changing circumstances could see ...Full Story »

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says it is too early to call his side Champions League contenders despite their impressive 3-0 win over Newcastle.Two goals from Ollie Watkins – which took his tally to 11 in the last 12 matches – after Jacob Ramsey’s opener put Eddie Howe’s side to the sword at Villa Park to make it seven wins from their last eight games.That form has seen the...Full Story »

Unai Emery has switched his objective from Premier League survival to securing a top-10 finish after Aston Villa’s 3-0 win against Bournemouth.Douglas Luiz, Jacob Ramsey and Emiliano Buendia all scored as mid-table Villa moved on to 38 points with 11 matches remaining.They were only a point above the relegation zone when boss Emery officially started work as Steven Gerrard’s successo...Full Story »

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery praised the team spirit which saw Emi Buendia hand penalty duties to Ollie Watkins to allow the striker to score the decisive opener in a 2-0 win at Everton.Buendia, who would later fire home the second to end their three-match losing run, had only been on the pitch a couple of minutes when Idrissa Gana Gueye brought down John McGinn.But having picked up the bal...Full Story »