Aston Villa put a massive spanner in Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes on Sunday afternoon, taking all three points at The Emirates – and Alan Shearer has heaped praise on Unai Emery.
Going into the game, Arsenal may have recently seen Liverpool lose to Crystal Palace at Anfield, giving them the opportunity to go top of the standings and surpass Liverpool. They squandered the opportunity.
However, villas are not without their challenges. The Midlands team is still vying for a spot in the top four, and following Newcastle’s victory over Tottenham, they had the opportunity to secure fourth place with a win.
Of course, Emery won the game against his old squad with a goal from John McGinn in the opposite fixture. The Scottish striker was not on target this time, but Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins scored.
Unai Emery might have just terminated Arsenal’s pursuit of the title.
Arsenal had multiple chances, the most notable of which was Leandro Trossard’s six-yard shot, which Emi Martinez miraculously saved. Villa hit the woodwork twice, including a stunning Youri Tielemans effort.
But it was Jamaican sensation Bailey who opened the scoring, tapping in after a stray ball found its way to the former Leverkusen player. Then Watkins broke through on goal, chipping brilliantly under David Raya.
Emery erupted on the touchline after Bailey’s score, pounding the air and running around with his technical staff. That is, of course, after managing Arsenal for 18 months, during which time they won 43 out of 78 games.
Emery has frequently been chastised for his time at Arsenal, but it was an underappreciated period in charge. His form at Villa has been superb. He celebrated as though it meant something.
What Alan Shearer Said About Emery’s Celebration Against Arsenal
Alan Shearer commented after seeing Emery celebrating enthusiastically on the touchline against Arsenal, his former club. Speaking on Match of the Day, he was thrilled to see the Spaniard celebrating so passionately.
“I truly enjoy this [Emery’s celebration]. Forget about not celebrating against your former club. This was a tactical masterclass. He has defeated his former team twice. What a job he’s doing, what a season.”
It is a weekend that will most likely prove fatal in the title fight for both Liverpool and Arsenal. Man City are already two points ahead, and with six games remaining, it appears unlikely that Pep Guardiola’s team will lose any points.
