Arsenal currently tops the English Premier League table with 19 points, holding a slim three-point lead over Manchester City. Under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, the Gunners have maintained an impressive start to the season.
Sunday Oliseh, former captain and coach of the Super Eagles, has lavished praise on Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, according to Soccernet.ng.
The former Juventus midfielder hailed Emery as one of the world’s top-tier coaches and expressed disappointment over Arsenal’s decision to part ways with him prematurely.
After his exit from Arsenal, Emery masterminded Villarreal‘s unforgettable triumph in the 2020-21 UEFA Europa League final, narrowly defeating Manchester United in a dramatic penalty shootout (11-10) following a 1-1 draw after extra time-a feat yet to be matched by Arteta at Arsenal.
Oliseh’s Take on Emery’s Arsenal Era
Oliseh passionately emphasized Emery’s knack for delivering exceptional results despite limited resources.
“With great responsibility comes high expectations. Emery consistently achieves remarkable outcomes with minimal backing. He’s my favorite coach and the reason I follow Aston Villa. I first admired him during his Sevilla tenure. Emery is truly outstanding,” Oliseh stated.
He also criticized Arsenal for failing to fully support Emery during his tenure, branding the club’s decision to dismiss him as a major misjudgment.
“Emery was arguably one of Arsenal’s greatest assets, yet they made a serious error by letting him go. If they had backed him as they have Arteta, the outcome could have been very different. Emery took Arsenal to a European final with an average squad,” Oliseh added.
Watch Oliseh Reflect on Arsenal’s Mistake in Releasing Emery
Sunday Oliseh expressed that Arsenal erred in sacking Unai Emery. pic.twitter.com/HEzjIM0MJY
– POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) October 17, 2025
Assessing Oliseh’s Opinion on Emery’s Influence
During his stint at Arsenal from 2018 to 2019, Emery steered the team to the UEFA Europa League final in his first season, though a subsequent decline in form led to his departure.
Since then, the 53-year-old tactician has rebuilt his reputation by guiding Villarreal to Europa League glory in 2021 and transforming Aston Villa into one of the Premier League’s most exciting sides.