Breaking news:“I snubbed Arteta’s handshake after the final whistle because….” – Aston Villa Boss Unai Emery revealed the ONE reason why he snubbed Arteta’s handshake despite beating him and his club on Saturday night.

Aston Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, created a buzz by refraining from exchanging handshakes with Arsenal’s coaching team following their significant 1-0 victory on Saturday night. Emery clarified that the absence of Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, on the bench was the sole reason for this gesture, emphasizing that there were no underlying issues between the two clubs.

Despite being banned from the touchline due to an FA charge, Arteta could only watch the match from the executive boxes as Villa secured the win with an early first-half goal from John McGinn. Emery, formerly Arsenal’s manager, explained post-match that the lack of a handshake was solely because Arteta wasn’t present on the bench.

Speaking about the situation, Emery clarified, “No, because Arteta wasn’t on the bench. I gave my hand to the workers inside because they were there when I was there, but only with the people I coached with and who worked with me.” He emphasized that the decision was not personal, expressing respect for Arsenal, Arteta, and the entire coaching staff.

In Arteta’s absence, who left the stands just before the final whistle, Emery chose to celebrate the victory with the fans. Despite Villa’s recent impressive victories, Emery remained cautious about entertaining title talks, stating, “I will speak again when we are in game 30 to 32 and if we are in the same position as now then maybe I can speak about it. At the start, we are not a contender, it is only game 16. We are in [the top four] and must try to keep it.” This cautious approach reflects Emery’s focus on the long-term and maintaining consistency throughout the season.

Match-winner John McGinn echoed Emery’s sentiments, downplaying title aspirations, and acknowledging the long season ahead, stating, “I’m banning the T-word. It’s game week 16 so there’s a long way to go. We respect everyone round about us who have been in this position for years. We’re newbies – if we can keep it up, we’ll see.” McGinn’s acknowledgment of the long season ahead and respect for more established teams highlights Villa’s