Emery and Arteta play down no handshake incident after Arsenal-Villa clash

Both Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta insisted there is no problem between the pair after they did not shake hands following Arsenal’s win over Aston Villa on Tuesday.

The Gunners ensured they will end 2025 as the Premier League leaders after a 4-1 win over Villa, with Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus all scoring in the second half.

Villa’s defeat marked just the fourth time a Premier League team have seen a winning run of eight or more games ended by a defeat of 3+ goals, and the first since Liverpool’s 18-game winning run was ended by a 3-0 defeat to Watford in February 2020.

Arsenal’s 4-1 win was also the biggest margin of victory in a Premier League match between two sides starting the day in the top three since Manchester City’s 4-1 victory over the Gunners in April 2023.

After the full-time whistle, Emery went back to the dressing room before shaking Arteta’s hand, but he explained the reason behind his actions.

“I was waiting for him but he was with his coaches,” said Emery.

The Boss’ thoughts following #ARSAVL. pic.twitter.com/PpFQVKeKYu

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 30, 2025

“My routine is to always go for first to the opponent coach, shake hands and then go inside or go to my coaches. If he’s not doing the same rule, I can’t wait.

“I don’t know what happened. There’s no issue for me, but I can’t wait. Maybe it’s because it was cold?

“I’m still happy, even losing today, so congratulations to Arsenal.”

And Arteta added on the matter: “No, that’s OK. That’s part of the game and that’s not an issue at all.”

Arsenal are now five points clear of Man City, and six of Villa, though Pep Guardiola’s side cut that lead back to two points when they face Sunderland on New Year’s Day.

The Gunners travel to Bournemouth in their next league match on Saturday, when Aston Villa also host Nottingham Forest.