Unai Emery determined to use ‘broken’ Arsenal experience to thrive at Aston Villa

Unai Emery has provided further explanation of his decision to leave Villarreal for Aston Villa.
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Unai Emery has been speaking about his decision to join Aston Villa.

Emery took over Villa officially last week, replacing Steven Gerrard, and he is already off to a good start, defeating Manchester United in his first game. It’s hoped Emery can take Villa to the top half of the table after a disappointing start, with the Lions holding lofty ambitions.

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Interestingly, Emery rejected the chance to take over Newcastle United last year, resisting the chance to walk into the best-funded project in the Premier League. Just a year on, and having won a Europa League and having reached a Champions League semi-final with Villarreal, the Spaniard has decided to make the switch to Villa.

It’s no secret that money has helped him make the decision, with Villa almost tripling his salary, but there is more to it than that, with Emery wanting to prove himself in the Premier League following a mixed spell with Arsenal that ended sourly.

"All the steps I have been taking have been from a professional point of view. In every place I have been, it has been to take a piece of heart, [as a] player and coach. I have always been clear about the step I was taking," Emery explained to Marca.

"When we achieve the objectives, we evolve. I need to feel that there is a professional challenge. I was very happy in Villarreal fulfilling professional objectives. There were successes, but going out is something professional where I value the challenge I have in the future with the one who knocks on my door. I always attend to the one who knocks on my door and then I decide to listen or not.

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"[Joining] Villa makes me return to the Premier League, challenges me to take steps in such a competitive league. I can build a team to go back to Europe."

Unai Emery hopes to win a trophy with Aston Villa.Unai Emery hopes to win a trophy with Aston Villa.
Unai Emery hopes to win a trophy with Aston Villa.

Speaking about how he has learned from his Arsenal experience, Emery added: “I am better prepared to face a new challenge in the Premier League. I already have a year and four months of experience in this league.

"I think my first year at Arsenal was nice. It was broken by some things that I have identified that I am now going to try to avoid. I have always had an internal goal of having a new opportunity and coming back better prepared, and I think that at Villarreal I have acquired a continuity that has led to them calling me back from England. It's more of a challenge than a rematch. I had to accept it as something very professional."

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