Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says "I don't want to waste time" as he looks for further improvement following his side’s Champions League qualification last season.
Villa secured a spot in European football’s top club tournament for the first time since 1983 last term after finishing fourth in the Premier League and have been on an upwards trajectory ever since Emery took charge in October 2022.
However, the Spaniard is still looking for more as he prepares Villa to face his former club and likely title contenders Arsenal in what promises to be an early test of their credentials for the season.
Emery, whose side started their campaign with a 2-1 win at West Ham, told a press conference: "The last history of Aston Villa is progressively getting better, but five years ago they were in the Championship.
"With the new project, with the history, with the new way we want to create here, it’s about trying to be contenders and be consistent – we have to try to be progressively stronger, getting in the top four like last year.
"I don’t want to waste time here myself as a coach, progressing as a coach, and I want the same mentality from the players.
"To achieve the objectives we are facing, dreaming is very difficult, but I want to dream and work hard to get it. At the moment we are in a good way but there’s still a lot of work to do to continue being consistent like I want."
The last time Villa faced Arsenal, goals from Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey saw Emery’s men earn a 2-0 win at the Emirates in April in a result that ended up proving hugely damaging to Arsenal’s hopes of winning a first league title in 20 years.
Despite that victory though, Emery is under no illusions about how big a task they face at Villa Park on Saturday against a Gunners side who have finished second in the last two seasons and started their current campaign with a 2-0 win over Wolves.
Emery added: "Tomorrow is three points, a very difficult three points against one of the favourite teams this year to win the league.
"It’s a big challenge for us. They are favourites against us tomorrow and contenders to win the Premier League and be in the top four.
"We are excited, we are motivated, but we have to show again our capacity. If we are able to repeat with the different players, with the different ways, one year more here how we can compete, how we can face teams like Arsenal tomorrow."
New signings Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen and Kosta Nedeljkovic will be looking to make their home debuts at Villa Park and Emery revealed long-term injury absentees Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara are progressing well.
He said: "Kamara is progressing a lot – in a few weeks he will start training with us.
"Tyrone Mings is close to starting doing something with the team, now he’s working alone but he’s feeling very good.
"Other players, I think they are available – we don’t have more issues with injured players."
