Arsenal’s Unai Emery Curse Continues: Another Loss Adds to the Saga

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Arsenal fans have been left frustrated once again as Aston Villa, under the management of former Gunners coach Unai Emery, secured a dramatic 2–1 victory over the North London side yesterday.

The result adds to a troubling pattern for Mikel Arteta’s team whenever they face Emery-managed sides.

Since Emery’s departure from Arsenal in November 2019, he has consistently posed tactical nightmares for his former club, and yesterday’s game was no exception.

A Look Back: Emery’s Record Against Arsenal

Unai Emery has always had a complicated relationship with Arsenal. He led them to their first Europa League final in 2019, only for Chelsea to defeat them 4–1. Arsenal subsequently sacked him.

Since then, whenever he has returned to England, Emery seems to find a way to punish Arsenal:

• 29 April 2021: Villarreal 2–1 Arsenal (Europa League)
• 6 May 2021: Arsenal 0–0 Villarreal (aggregate exit for Arsenal)
• 18 February 2023: Aston Villa 2–4 Arsenal (Premier League)
• 9 December 2023: Aston Villa 1–0 Arsenal (Premier League)
• 14 April 2024: Arsenal 0–2 Aston Villa (Premier League)
• 6 December 2025: Aston Villa 2–1 Arsenal (Premier League, Buendía winner in stoppage time)

Emery has won four out of these six encounters, showing an uncanny ability to exploit Arsenal’s weaknesses, even years after leaving the club.

What Yesterday’s Result Means

The stoppage-time winner by Aston Villa yesterday highlights Arsenal’s ongoing vulnerability against Emery’s setups. It’s a reminder that even a top Premier League side can struggle when facing a tactician who knows their inner workings.

For Arsenal, the challenge is not just tactical — it’s also psychological.

Emery has become a kind of symbolic hurdle, appearing at the crucial moments whenever Arsenal are at their peak. Overcoming him will require both tactical adjustments and a mental breakthrough.

Arsenal fans can only hope that one day, the “Emery effect” finally ends — until then, every clash against him is another high-stakes test.