Premier League: Why didn’t Unai Emery shake hands with Arteta after Arsenal beat Aston Villa?

Aston Villa manager ‍Unai Emery played down the absence ​of the traditional post-match handshake ‌with Arsenal boss Mikel ​Arteta on Tuesday after his side’s 4-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium snapped its 11-game winning run.

Emery was seen rushing back to the dressing room after ​the final whistle, while Arteta ⁠appeared to be waiting at the touchline.

“After the match, always my routine is ​quick — shake hands ⁠and go with my coaches, with my players, or go to the dressing room,” Emery ‌told reporters when asked about ‌his quick exit.

“And I was waiting, and waiting.

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“Of course, ‍he was happy and he was with his coaches and I ‍decided to go inside.

“But for me, it’s not a problem,” added Emery, who spent 18 months in the Arsenal hotseat before he was sacked in November 2019.

Arteta also played down the significance ⁠of the missed handshake. “No, that’s OK. That’s part of ​the game, not an issue at ⁠all.”

Villa, in third, now trails leader Arsenal by six points and next hosts Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Published on Dec 31, 2025