Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings has lauded manager Unai Emery for his instrumental role in steering the team through a demanding season across various competitions. Mings firmly believes that the club "deserves" regular participation in the Champions League, a sentiment that reflects the aspirations of both players and supporters alike. He remarked on Emery's wealth of experience in European football, stating, "He's been brilliant. It always helps to have someone who's been there and done it and had experience in European competitions and also knows how to find the balance in placing the importance in our consistency in the Premier League but also the mental peaks and troughs from Champions League nights. It's something different for us and the fans."
The pursuit of Champions League qualification stands as the team's primary objective, with Mings emphasising the need for consistent performances throughout the 38-match Premier League campaign. He acknowledged the significance of Emery's experience, noting, "His experience has been really valuable. I'm sure balancing European competitions, Premier League and the FA Cup will show later in the season." Mings expressed a strong desire for the team's Champions League experience to be enduring, stating, "Once you've had a taste of the Champions League, the manager is really keen on it not being a one-off and it's what this club deserves."
After a lengthy recovery from a knee injury, Mings has recently made a notable return, starting four consecutive matches for Villa. Reflecting on his comeback, he shared, "I obviously went through a really tough period with my knee injury. Coming back it's always tough to find a rhythm and get back into the flow of everything that you take for granted when you're playing. Now to be back in the swing of things I feel great and better each week - long may it continue!" While he acknowledges his progress, Mings is aware that he still has work to do, stating, "I would say another 3 or 4 months of playing continuously is when I will stop thinking about the injury." He recognised the challenge of regaining form after a prolonged absence, adding, "There is no grace period - you're either good or you're not."
In a recent encounter against Arsenal, Emery expressed his satisfaction with the team's resilience after conceding two goals, describing their performance as "fantastic." He commended the players' mentality, stating, "In our mentality, we never give up and today we never gave up and we tried to score." Emery acknowledged the strength of Arsenal on their home turf but underscored the importance of Villa's competitive spirit.
Lucas Digne, who came on for Ian Maatsen during the match, received praise from Emery: "He [Lucas Digne] played fantastic. Maatsen played fantastic in the first half." Emery highlighted the contributions of both players against Arsenal's Martinelli while looking ahead to future challenges, stating, "Now we are going to enjoy Champions League and of course to compete," while also mentioning the need to strengthen the squad in the upcoming transfer window.
Midfielder Youri Tielemans shared his thoughts with BBC Sport after the 2-2 draw, noting the team's determination. "We came back really well into the game. The [first] goal gave us freedom and belief. It's not an easy task. They were on top of us for 60 minutes," he remarked. Tielemans viewed the draw positively, asserting, "2-2 is a good result for us," and stressed the importance of maintaining consistency, particularly in away matches.
This draw was particularly significant for Arsenal, marking the first time since October 2019 that they failed to win a Premier League home match after leading by two goals. For Aston Villa, it was a momentous occasion, as they avoided defeat in a Premier League away game after trailing by two goals for the first time since November 2013.
As reported by BBC, Aston Villa's recent performances, including an impressive victory over Everton, have instilled hope among fans and players alike. The club’s management is eager to sustain this positive momentum, with Mings and his teammates committed to striving for further success in both league and European competitions.