WE’VE TURNED IT INTO A BIG EIGHT NOW SAYS EMERY
UNAI EMERY says the days of a ‘Big Six’ are over – and is intent on Aston Villa joining Newcastle in breaking their monopoly.
Villa host the Magpies this lunchtime with both teams occupying top-six positions after making rapid progress this term.
Mega-rich Newcastle, who are Saudi owned, sit third and look well set for a Champions League spot after five straight wins.
Villa, meanwhile, have hugely ambitious owners of their own and have claimed 19 points from the last 21 after being revived by Emery since his arrival in October.
With Liverpool eighth and Chelsea 11th, the Big Six has been well and truly shaken up.
Villa manager Emery said: “Now Manchester City and Arsenal are at the top. In Spain, it’s every year Barcelona or Real Madrid.
“But here it’s not. Last year Liverpool, before that Chelsea, before that Tottenham. Manchester United also.
“I remember Leicester (in 2016 pulling off their title triumph) but now we are adding one more in Newcastle – and I want to add Aston Villa.
“That’s our first motivation, but it’s very difficult.
“It is very good for the Premier League, having more teams trying to be in the top six. Now it is not a top six but a top seven, top eight or top 10.”
Emery is now determined to establish Villa back among England’s elite and vowed: “I don’t want to waste time here.”
He added: “Everybody here is trying to keep consistent, this is the idea.
“It’s a process. We have a chance of top six, of Europe, it’s amazing.
“I want professionally to make us stronger and stronger.
“We are focusing always to add something to improve us. With adding players, or a new mentality.
“I can’t stop – I don’t want players relaxing. If I see it, I will change it. I have experience and I’m so happy.
“But I don’t want to waste time here. I enjoy working and I want everyone else to make the same move.
“I want everyone to be united in our commitment to get better.”
Ex-Arsenal boss Emery will come up against the Magpies for the first time since he turned them down in November 2021 having been convinced to stay at Villarreal.