By Aston Villa FC

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Unai Emery joined members of the local and national media at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.

The Aston Villa head coach was looking forward to the game against his former side Arsenal as he looks to maintain the club's upward trajectory in the Premier League.

Here's what he had to say...

On being in the top four…

Unai Emery.

“We can wait until match 30 or 32 in case we are in the top four in that moment then maybe we can think we are contenders to be there.  

“Now, we have to be happy and we have to be focused. The match on Wednesday is finished and we enjoyed that moment with our supporters in Villa Park, but now we have to focus 100% on the match tomorrow.

“Again, it’s a big challenge and a great moment but we’re very focused in our professional work for tomorrow.”

On Villa Park atmosphere…

Aston Villa played host to Manchester City in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

“With the supporters, for me it’s clear the way we can take: trying to transmit our energy to them; our idea, our style and our energy on the pitch.

“And then they are going to connect with us 100% supporting us, 100% helping us and trying to create a great atmosphere as we created on Wednesday.

“The energy is very important and they are going to support us from minute one until minute 90, always trying to play the match with us.”

On seeking constant improvement…

Aston Villa played host to Manchester City in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

“It’s my challenge every day to be better today than yesterday and better tomorrow than today.

“I am not going to stop. I have to try to keep balance as well. Against Manchester City we were playing very well, but I want to try to do some steps ahead like we are doing but thinking we have to be in this level, we have to want to be at this level.

“It’s going to be difficult and sometimes we can remind ourselves about the match we played before Manchester City at Bournemouth and we drew when we were very close to losing. That is the balance.

“Tomorrow is going to be very difficult. We are confident at home and feeling very good with our structure, with our supporters at Villa Park. The energy we have there is amazing.”

On the mentality heading into Arsenal…

Aston Villa played host to Manchester City in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

“We are adding with some players experiences, and experiences in Europe, playing a lot of matches like we are going to play finishing on Saturday, four matches in ten days.

“I’m going to be very deeply analysing how we can face the match tomorrow hopefully being better in our performances individually and collectively.

“How we finished the match on Wednesday is very important because they did an amazing effort but a hard effort. If you want to play in this level, playing against the best teams in the world in the Premier League, the challenge is very hard.

“Our ambition is for an exciting moment with our supporters with the rivals we want to face and how we can face them. Tomorrow is another step ahead, playing against maybe the best team in this season in the Premier League.”

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