Emery eyes Arsenal challenge

Unai Emery spoke to the media on Friday afternoon as Aston Villa’s home opener against Arsenal comes into view.

The club’s manager was in front of the cameras to preview the Gunners’ visit to Villa Park.

Here’s what he had to say…

On Emi Martínez’s new contract…

“We are very happy because Emiliano Martínez is very important. He’s involved completely in this project.

“When I arrived here, I knew him before because we were working in Arsenal together. I knew his mentality and even now it’s stronger than before because he’s achieving individual objectives with his national team and here with Aston Villa.

“His extension is fantastic for us and very good for every supporter of Aston Villa, we can be proud of him.”

On the exciting nature of Villa’s project…

“Sometimes I am telling the players that Aston Villa won the Champions League in 1982. It’s one important date for Aston Villa as a club, and it helps to explain to players the history.

“The last history of Aston Villa is progressively getting better, but five years ago they were in the Championship. With the new project, with the history, with the new way we want to create here, it’s about trying to be contenders and be consistent.

“We have to think that we have to be in the top ten, we have to be in the top eight, we have to be in the top six and we have to try to be progressively stronger, getting in the top four like last year.

“This is the way we have to confirm it, like we did last year, being consistent. This is the message I want here; players being hungry to improve, hungry to get another level higher as a club and individually.

“A very good example is Emi Martínez for every message I can send to other players about what we want now as a club. I don’t want to waste time here myself as a coach, progressing as a coach, and I want the same mentality from the players.

“To achieve the objectives we are facing, dreaming is very difficult, but I want to dream and work hard to get it. At the moment we are in a good way but there’s still a lot of work to do to continue being consistent like I want.”

On returning to Villa Park…

“Tomorrow we will meet again with our supporters in Villa Park last season and we are starting against Arsenal.

“They are going to be very excited and we are looking forward to being there with our supporters, enjoying each moment. We are now playing three matches in August before starting to play in Europe after the break.

“We have to try to be consistent now and try to focus on those three matches, trying to be strong, to be competitive and focusing on the Premier League like the first target we have in our competition.”

On facing Arsenal…

“We started last week in the Premier League, winning, which was fantastic and very difficult. Tomorrow is three points, a very difficult three points against one of the favourite teams this year to win the league.

“They are progressing a lot, they are improving a lot and they are being very competitive, more and more. It’s a big challenge for us tomorrow. They are favourites against us tomorrow and contenders to win the Premier League and be in the top four.

“We are excited, we are motivated, but we have to show again our capacity. If we are able to repeat with the different players, with the different ways, one year more here how we can compete, how we can face teams like Arsenal tomorrow. The challenge is motivating for us and our supporters to face them.

“We are playing in Villa Park tomorrow, the first match this year. I am very, very motivated and very focused on how we can compete as soon as possible in our best level. Some players are adapting to our idea but not completely like I want yet. Tomorrow we have to get our best performances individually and collectively to beat them.”