Unai Emery wary of Bournemouth threat

Emery’s men also sit fourth in the Premier League after winning five of their first eight games and the boss does not want his players taking their foot off the gas.

The Spaniard believes his team have struggled in matches immediately following Champions League matches this season.

He said: “The last matches we played after Champions League I was feeling we were a little bit tired, with less energy, maybe less intensity and focus.

“Tomorrow the challenge is how we can respond again after Tuesday.”

Villa beat Wolves and drew with Manchester United in those previous games but Emery was not entirely satisfied with performance levels.

Tuesday’s win made it three wins from three in the Champions League but the boss insists it is domestic competition which remains his focus.

“We are trying to separate each competition,” he said. “The Premier League is 38 matches and we are working even more for that than the Champions League.

“The Premier League is the most important because if we want to play again next year in the Champions League it will be through the league.”

Bournemouth last weekend became the first team to beat Arsenal this season.

Emery continued: “It will be very difficult. They are a very demanding team who play the same style home and away.

“To beat them, to get three points, is going to be very difficult. We will need the players full of energy and focus, being clinical and with the supporters being behind us.”