Unai Emery has had a very impressive impact at Aston Villa (Picture: Getty Images)
Aston Villa host Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday evening and Gabriel Agbonlahor is expecting his former side to put a dent in the Gunners’ title hopes.
Unai Emery has worked wonders in his spell with the Villains, riding high at third in the Premier League table after a 1-0 win over Manchester City on Wednesday night.
The Spaniard faces a club he used to manage this weekend and Agbonlahor believes he will be extra motivated to prove a point after his underwhelming spell in charge in north London.
Villa are only four points behind Arsenal at the top of the table and the England international reckons they will be even closer by end of play on Saturday.
‘It’s a massive game,’ Agbonlahor told talkSPORT. ‘You know what’s bigger than the game as well? Unai Emery, it didn’t go well for him at Arsenal.
‘He’s going to have a bee in his bonnet to say ‘you know what, I’m going to beat Arsenal’.
‘If they play like they did against Man City, then it’s going to be one hell of a game.
‘I don’t like to say Villa will win, I normally say draw, but the way they played yesterday and the energy at Villa Park… I had friends and family at the stadium and it was frightening.’
Leon Bailey scored Aston Villa’s winner against Manchester City on Wednesday night (Picture: Getty Images)
After beating the champions on Wednesday night, Emery was keen to keep expectations realistic, saying his team are not title contenders, although if they beat Arsenal that could change.
‘It is a good victory. We have to believe now, more or less we are in the top four, but even now, we are not contenders and comparing with other teams,’ he said.
‘But if we are now here and we can take this process like we are doing and being there, of course we have to believe. We have to be excited but as well be balanced.
‘We have to play against Arsenal on Saturday, maybe we can rest for two days and try to enjoy the moment. Now, we have to be focused. I want to do this a step ahead being as a team with the winning mentality and trying to keep balance, but we are now preparing for the match on Saturday.’
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