Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal once again fell short of winning their first Premier League title since the invincible season of 2003/04, after Manchester City beat West Ham United to win their fourth title in a row.
This season looked to be different for Arsenal after they had beaten Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium and played out a tight goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium, which looked to make the North London side favourites for the title.
However, one result changed the course of the season and put City firmly back into the driving seat. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa picked up a 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium back in April and even back then, before the season ended, it seemed like a turning point in the title race.
It proved to be the decisive result as City won the league title by two points over the North London club. Emery picking up a victory against his former side to deny them the title will surely be a sweet one for the Spaniard.
Keown on ‘desperate’ Emery
Speaking on talkSPORT, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, who was part of the invincible side to last win the league title in 2004, believes that Emery should be credited with changing the course of the league title.
“I think the reason that Arsenal didn’t win the league really was because of Unai Emery,” Keown said.
“He took six points off Arsenal and I’m going to say this because I genuinely feel this, he’s like a swan on the surface – very calm and plays against his old team respectfully, but beneath the surface he’s desperate.
“Those little feet are going crazy to beat Arsenal and he managed it. He stopped Arsenal from winning the league and it’s ironic, I played for both great clubs, but Villa have just been amazing.
“They had a massive say in who won the Premier League this year.”
Emery’s desperation to beat Arsenal
Emery has performed miracles this season for the Villains but it is easy to forget that the Spaniard was hounded out of the Premier League following a disappointing spell at the Emirates Stadium.
Following on from Arsene Wenger’s time at the club was never going to be easy for Emery but the criticism that the Spaniard received during his time in North London was unjust. During his 18 months at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal finished just a point outside of the Champions League places and lost the UEFA Europa League final to Chelsea.
To beat his former side home and away during this campaign will be sweet but to deny his former side the league title and help his Villa team, who were flirting with relegation before his appointment, achieve Champions League qualification makes it all the more sweeter for the 52-year-old.