![\"Unai](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JS391791238.jpg\")
Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta<\/p>\nAston Villa boss Unai Emery has explained why he didn’t shake hands with Mikel Arteta after the defeat at Arsenal<\/p>\n
23:14, 30 Dec 2025Updated 00:03, 31 Dec 2025<\/p>\n
Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta<\/p>\n
Unai Emery has explained that he didn\u2019t shake Mikel Arteta\u2019s hand immediately after Aston Villa\u2019s defeat at the Emirates Stadium because the Arsenal boss left him waiting.<\/p>\n
The defeat marked Villa\u2019s first in nearly two months, ending a remarkable 11-match winning run.<\/p>\n
Villa contained their hosts well in the first half but fell behind early in the second when Gabriel beat Emi Martinez to the ball from a corner.<\/p>\n
Martin Zubimendi then doubled Arsenal\u2019s lead shortly after, before Leandro Trossard added a third after the hour mark.<\/p>\n
Moments after coming on, Gabriel Jesus made it 4-0, though Ollie Watkins scored a consolation late on, tapping in from close range following some neat work from Donyell Malen.<\/p>\n
After the full-time whistle, Emery waited to shake Arteta\u2019s hand but eventually headed down to the dressing room due to his counterpart\u2019s prolonged celebrations with his staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is simple, you can watch. Always my routine is quick,\u201d Emery said when asked why he didn\u2019t shake Arteta\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI shake hands and then go with my players and coaches into the dressing room. I was waiting.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe [Arteta] was waiting and he was with his coaches. I decided to go inside. For me it is no problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking about the game, Emery said: \u201cWe competed fantastic in the first half and we had momentum. We had corners and defended well too. We didn\u2019t concede a corner in the first half.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe felt comfortable, but we conceded the first goal in the second half. Onana\u2019s injury didn\u2019t help us as he is important from set-pieces and in the middle.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t give up and we competed like we were doing. We were not giving up and we scored one goal and had other chances. Arsenal are the best team in the league and they are the favourite to win the title.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if it is the day 19 or 20 because we have played Arsenal twice and then we play Nottingham. But I am happy with how we have set our ambitious demands.\u201d<\/p>\n
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