Unai Emery Explains Handshake Snub After Arsenal’s Victory

Aston Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, addressed the curious incident following his team’s 4-1 defeat to Arsenal on March 12, 2024. After the match, it appeared that Emery had snubbed a handshake with Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal boss, prompting questions from reporters about the apparent oversight.

The Gunners secured a vital victory, propelling themselves five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a remarkable second-half performance. At halftime, the score was level, leaving Villa with a chance to equalize their points with Arsenal. However, the second half saw Arsenal spring into action, starting with a goal from Gabriel Magalhaes just three minutes after the break. Goals from Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus followed, solidifying the win, while Ollie Watkins managed to grab a late consolation goal for Villa in injury time.

After the final whistle, Arteta approached the Villa dugout in search of Emery but found him absent, which left the Arsenal manager looking somewhat perplexed.

In his post-match press conference, Emery clarified the situation, stating he had been waiting for Arteta but ultimately chose to go inside. “After finishing the match, my routine is always quick, shake hands… I was waiting. Of course, [Arteta] was happy. But he was with the coaches and I can’t wait for him. I was there, but no problem. I went to my dressing room,” he explained.

Arteta, for his part, downplayed the incident, referring to it as not an issue. “Sometimes we are in this sort of moment, so it’s not an issue for me,” he remarked during his own press conference.

Prior to this match, Villa had been enjoying a significant run, securing 11 consecutive victories, including one over Arsenal in their earlier meeting this month. Following the defeat, Aston Villa remains in third place in the league standings, with Manchester City poised to challenge Arsenal’s lead when they face Sunderland on March 14, 2024.

The dynamics of the Premier League continue to shift as teams strive for positioning, with both Arsenal and Aston Villa showcasing their competitive spirits in this latest encounter.