Mikel Arteta vs Unai Emery: The results every time the current and ex-Arsenal managers have played each other
Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery have faced off several times since the former left Arsenal and was replaced by the latter in 2019.
With Arsenal set to play Aston Villa on Saturday, the two will once again meet in what will be a key clash at the top of the Premier League.
The two sides are in great form and both won on Wednesday night, but in very different circumstances.
Arsenal beat Brentford 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, with goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka sealing a fairly straightforward three points for the Gunners.
Villa travelled to Brighton, where they recovered from a two-goal deficit to win 4-3 in what was an exhilarating match.
Unai Emery holds slight advantage over Mikel Arteta
Emery was under huge pressure at Villa at the start of the season, after his side failed to win any of their opening six fixtures.
The Villans have since exploded back into form, however, winning 12 of their 14 matches across all competitions.
They will face a side that have not lost since August when they play Arsenal on Saturday, however.
Personal history runs deep for Emery in this fixture, with the Spaniard spending 18 months with the Gunners between 2018 and 2019 before he was sacked.
Arsenal hired Arteta to replace the 54-year-old, and the two have faced off seven times in the years since.
Emery had the edge at Villarreal, with his team knocking the Gunners out in the semi-final of the 2020-21 Europa League, and positive results have followed him to Villa.
Of the five times the sides have met with both Spaniards in charge, Villa have won two and lost two, with the most recent game ending level.
| Mikel Arteta vs Unai Emery – results | Season |
| Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa | 2024-25 |
| Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal | 2024-25 |
| Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa | 2023-24 |
| Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal | 2023-24 |
| Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal | 2022-23 |
| Arsenal 0-0 Villarreal | 2020-21 |
| Villarreal 2-1 Arsenal | 2020-21 |
Interestingly, both teams have enjoyed stronger performances when travelling for the fixture.
Emery will want to recreate 2023-24 title killer
When Arsenal hosted Villa at the Emirates Stadium in the 2023-24 season, Arteta’s side had won 10 of their last 11 Premier League games and looked destined for the title.
But in a shock result, the visitors scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to complete a massive upset and hand Manchester City the advantage.
The Gunners would win their final six games of the season to give themselves every chance, but it was not enough. Emery had denied his former club the Premier League title.
Circumstances ahead of Saturday’s clash are slightly different. The season is yet to reach its boiling point, and the two sides will meet again in December.
But if Emery has a chance to deliver a blow to his former side’s title hopes and strengthen his own, he will be sure to leave everything on the pitch in the hopes of taking it.