Unai Emery has clarified the reason behind an apparent post-match snub of Mikel Arteta following Arsenal's commanding 4-1 victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday night. The Villa manager insisted he was 'waiting' for his counterpart after the final whistle, despite Arteta being left looking for him on the touchline.
Arsenal's Statement Win Extends Lead
The match at the Emirates Stadium proved pivotal in the Premier League title race. Arsenal moved five points clear at the summit after a superb second-half display against one of their closest rivals. The game was goalless at half-time, with Villa knowing a win would draw them level on points with the leaders.
The Gunners sprang to life after the interval. Gabriel Magalhaes broke the deadlock just three minutes into the second half. Further goals from Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus opened up a commanding lead. Ollie Watkins managed a late consolation for the visitors in injury time, but it was a comprehensive victory for the hosts.
The Post-Match Handshake Mystery
After the final whistle, the focus shifted from the pitch to the touchline. Arteta embraced his coaching staff before walking towards the Aston Villa dugout, seemingly to seek out Emery for the customary handshake. However, the former Arsenal manager was nowhere to be found, leaving Arteta looking momentarily bewildered.
In his post-match press conference, Emery, who spent 18 months as Arsenal boss following Arsene Wenger's departure, explained his actions. 'After finishing the match my routine is always quick, shake hands… I was waiting,' Emery stated. '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.'
Arteta played down the incident when questioned, telling reporters: 'It’s not an issue. Sometimes we are in this sort of moment, so it’s not an issue for me.'
Title Race Implications and Fallout
The result halted Villa's impressive run of 11 consecutive victories, a streak which included a win over Arsenal in the reverse fixture earlier in December. Despite the heavy defeat, Villa remain in third place in the Premier League table.
The victory solidifies Arsenal's position at the top, with the chasing pack now facing increased pressure. Manchester City will seek to keep pace when they play their game in hand against Sunderland on Thursday night.
While the handshake moment provided a brief postscript to the match, the real story was Arsenal's emphatic performance, which sent a strong message to their title rivals and delighted the home supporters in north London.
