Emery sees red over Villa yellows

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, September 19, 2026

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has criticized several players for their disciplinary issues after the team has picked up numerous bookings across multiple competitions and is still searching for a Premier League win. Emery emphasized the need for better emotional control, especially from experienced players, as Villa prepares to face Tottenham, whom he believes will finish in the Premier League's top four despite their slow start.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has expressed concerns over the discipline of several players as the team searches for its first Premier League victory of the season. The club’s campaign opened with Joao Gomes receiving a red card on his debut in a 4-0 loss to Brighton, and Emery opted to substitute forward Nicolas Jackson at halftime during last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest to avoid a potential second yellow card.

In total, Villa have accumulated seven yellow cards across their first four league matches. Additional cautions have come in other competitions, with three bookings recorded during their Champions League win against Club Bruges and three more in their Carabao Cup triumph over Coventry City. Emery criticized these disciplinary lapses, calling for better emotional control and fewer unnecessary cautions. He specifically highlighted Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s yellow card at Coventry, which was issued after an altercation with Gustavo Hamer. Emery emphasized that both Wan-Bissaka and Jackson, as experienced players, need to manage their on-field behavior more effectively.

Jackson, who transferred to Villa from Chelsea for £65 million this summer, has yet to score in the Premier League this season. His tendency to accumulate yellow cards was reportedly a source of frustration for former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

In addition to addressing Villa’s disciplinary issues, Emery has publicly supported Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi, predicting that Tottenham will secure a top-four finish by the end of the season. While Spurs remain without a league goal and have two points from their initial matches, Villa have managed just one point so far. Last season, Villa finished fourth in the Premier League, whereas Tottenham narrowly avoided relegation. Despite Spurs’ struggles early on, Emery pointed to their significant summer spending spree, estimated at around £300 million, as a sign that they should be competing for Champions League qualification.

“I expect them to be in the top four,” Emery said of Tottenham. “They are in a similar situation to us but have huge potential. The capacity to spend money in the summer gives us information about which teams are contenders. There are always favourites to be in the top four and Tottenham are among them.”

Villa are scheduled to face Tottenham in a Premier League match in north London, where both sides will aim to improve their early-season form.

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