Unai Emery has emphasized that Aston Villa and Chelsea remain fierce rivals, stating the clubs aim to "kill" each other despite their recent transfer dealings. This statement comes after Chelsea spent £117m to acquire Morgan Rogers from Villa, while Villa secured Nicolas Jackson and Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea this summer, the latter on a loan with a conditional buy obligation.

Key transfer details include:

• Morgan Rogers: £117m, record fee for a British player
• Emiliano Martínez: £7.5m to Chelsea, expressing his desire to leave Villa Park
• Nicolas Jackson: Potential record signing for Villa, deal worth up to £65m

Emery dismissed the idea of a friendly relationship, claiming, "The relationship is only through the deals – for money, for other players." He noted that Chelsea's signings, including Martínez, serve to strengthen their squad against Villa.

As Villa prepares to host Arsenal following a tough 4-0 loss to Brighton, Emery acknowledged the need for team rebuilding and hinted at potential debuts for new signings, including Jackson and Leon Goretzka. He expressed confidence in competing effectively, despite acknowledging the challenges posed by recent player departures.

Looking ahead, Emery praised Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, asserting they are favorites for both the Premier League and Champions League titles. He also highlighted the difficulties Villa faces due to ongoing transfer negotiations, stating, "It doesn’t make sense to finish the transfer window on 1 September," emphasizing the need for stability in squad building.