Mikel Arteta Sees Villa Test as Opportunity to Extend Arsenal's Lead

Mikel Arteta aims to keep title hopes alive vs Villa

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta views Aston Villa clash as chance to move eight points clear of Manchester City, praises Unai Emery's motivation.

“It is a matter of days with those two, for sure...”

Mikel Arteta is viewing the upcoming match against Aston Villa as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle, despite Villa's recent good form and history of causing Arsenal trouble. Villa, managed by Unai Emery, has been performing exceptionally well, with 25 points from their last 10 league games, and is currently third in the Premier League table.

Arteta praises Emery's motivation and ability, stating that he “never needs anything extra” and is “good enough in himself.” This mindset reflects Arteta's confidence in his own team's abilities, as Arsenal aims to stretch their lead in the title race.

The match is set to be a challenging one, with Villa's strong home form and Arsenal's injury concerns, including William Saliba and Declan Rice, adding to the anticipation. However, Arteta remains optimistic, expecting his team to rise to the occasion and capitalize on the opportunity to move eight points clear of Manchester City and nine points ahead of Villa.

Arsenal is currently on the rise, and a win against Aston Villa on Saturday would put them eight points clear of Manchester City and nine points ahead of third-placed Villa. This is a big opportunity for Arsenal to solidify their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery, has been performing exceptionally well, with 25 points from their last 10 league games, including a thrilling 4-3 win at Brighton on Wednesday. Emery's team is currently in the top four and looking to continue their good form against Arsenal.

“Well, for what they've been doing, the way they've been playing and winning these matches, certainly it's a team that is in great form, and we know that,” Arteta told reporters.

“We know, obviously, the manager and the incredible job that he's done there as well. So we know the task tomorrow, but we always think it's an opportunity.”

There's speculation that Unai Emery is particularly motivated against Arsenal, given his past experience as the Gunners' manager. Emery's tenure at Arsenal was cut short, and he's now leading Aston Villa, which adds an extra layer of intensity to their upcoming match at Villa Park. Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's current manager, acknowledges Emery's exceptional abilities, saying he's "good enough in himself" and doesn't need extra motivation. The history between Emery and Arsenal makes this clash intriguing, especially with Villa's recent good form and Arsenal's title aspirations on the line.

“I don't know. I think when you look at Unai, his career, his motivation level, everywhere there's been an impact that he's done, it's always been remarkable,” Arteta said.

“That's a question for him. But in my opinion, he never needs anything extra. I think he's good enough in himself.”

Full focus. pic.twitter.com/ZMvcsNwzTU

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 5, 2025

Arsenal recently extended their unbeaten run to 18 games with a 2-0 win over Brentford, but the victory was marred by injuries to defender Cristhian Mosquera and midfielder Declan Rice. Mosquera suffered an ankle injury and is expected to be out for 6-8 weeks, while Rice's condition is still uncertain.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, described Mosquera's injury as “more complicated” and said they would know more on Friday. He was more cautious about Rice's injury, but Rice himself said he's “fine.” These injuries add to Arsenal's growing list of absentees, including Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, shared positive updates on William Saliba and Leandro Trossard, saying, “It is a matter of days with those two, for sure,” indicating they're close to returning from their injuries.

Arteta also expressed concerns about the tight fixture schedule, with Arsenal facing Aston Villa just 72 hours after their match against Brentford. “Every hour is going to be very important to see the availability of the players,” Arteta said, highlighting the challenges posed by the packed schedule.