Without a doubt, Pep Guardiola of Manchester City is the finest manager in the world.
His status as the best coach in the English Premier League is plainly justified by that.
Not only has the Spaniard inspired future tacticians with his innovative changes to formations and structure, but his opponents also consider him a genius.
Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery, two of his Basque countrymen, are also there.
Emery has an outstanding record compared to Arteta, who has only won the FA Cup and two Community Shields.
After winning the UEFA Europa League three times in a row with Sevilla, Emery spent two years in France with Paris Saint-Germain, where he earned even more hardware.
His 2018 appointment as Arsene Wenger’s replacement was sufficient for Arsenal. He was let go in November 2019 after a disastrous run with the Emirates.
Next in line? Arteta.
Since Arteta took over as manager, Arsenal have clawed their way back into the conversation as a formidable football team.
They were unbeaten for 248 days in the Premier League last year before Manchester City did their thing in the final stretch.
Emery and Arteta have gotten off to good starts this season, which bodes well for Saturday’s Villa vs. Arsenal match.
Midweek, Villa won their fourteenth straight home game with a 1-0 victory over City. It was magnificent. Along with the champions, they moved up to third place.
The Gunners are now in first place and have never lost at Villa Park.
If you’re looking for a game to sit through for the full 90 minutes, this is it. Two hot teams will square off in what promises to be a tactical showdown between the top Spanish players and a battle for recognition as title contenders.
