Aston Villa are aiming to complete the double over Arsenal.
Unai Emery believes Aston Villa‘s trip to Arsenal is the biggest test they will face this season as they continue their unlikely push for the Premier League title.
Villa are just three points behind league leaders Arsenal following Saturday’s 2-1 comeback win at Chelsea.
Emery’s men have won 11 successive games in all competitions, including a dramatic 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the reverse fixture at Villa Park earlier this month.
A late Emi Buendia goal was the difference in that contest, but Emery expects a tougher challenge in North London.
“They are competing in the highest level in football,” Emery said of his former club.
“And to compete is to adapt of the opponent, to impose to the opponent, to impose their individual duels, to impose set pieces, to impose their structure tactically against the opponent.
“Of course, we played them here three weeks ago, and we showed our capacity to respond, to compete against them, and in the end even winning the match.
“But [it] was a really tough match. We needed to get our better performance collectively and individually, and even we needed to show our mentality, winning (in) the last minute, and tomorrow, of course, is going to be a different match.
“I think a different match because there are playing in Emirates, and they are going to feel stronger than away, with their supporters, but it’s our test now.
“We were speaking about the tests we had in Chelsea, and of course, we needed 90 minutes, we needed every player and tomorrow, I think, with the circumstances, we can have – because some players they are not available for tomorrow – the same test.
“I think they are [Arsenal] favourites [to win the league]. How they are building the team, how they are improving a lot of things, more players in their squad.
“Some players, they are coming back after being injured, like [Kai] Havertz and [Gabriel] Jesus, and of course, look and can see them now, stronger.
“We are analysing them to play tomorrow like we analysed three weeks ago, and of course, we have as well enough players and enough structure tactically and individually and mentally as well to try to face them, but of course, it’s the biggest test we are going to face.
“Of course, Manchester City as well, they are performing fantastic, and we must be proud of everything we are doing and being one point behind Manchester City, three points behind Arsenal, and how we are doing our way, but we must be humble, and we must be confident, and we must be as well ambitious.
“And our ambition is, go tomorrow to face them and we’ll see how we are facing them.”