The Briefing: Is Emery Premier League’s best manager right now? Cherki signing of the season? | OneFootball

Three weekend threads dominate, whether Unai Emery is the Premier League’s standout manager, whether Rayan Cherki is signing of the season, and whether the bottom three already looks set. According to NY Times, late interventions framed the debate.

Aston Villa’s 2-1 win at Chelsea hinged on Emery’s tweaks, with Ollie Watkins scoring twice as a substitute. Sancho and Morgan Rogers went wide, Tielemans operated as a No 10, and Chelsea’s man-marking was unpicked.

Since October 2022 he has rebuilt Villa, matching 11 straight wins last seen in 1897 and 1914 and delivering the club’s best win rate. From 18th after five winless games and a £26m outlay on Evann Guessand, they now chase Arsenal and Manchester City with 20 matches left.

xG sceptics remain, yet Villa have banked 18 points from behind and Emery’s bench keeps turning matches. The Emirates on Tuesday brings another examination, on a familiar stage.

Manchester City’s 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest underlined Cherki’s impact, a late goal and an assist for Tijjani Reijnders. The £30.3m buy from Lyon has seven assists and two goals in 644 Premier League minutes, five and eight across 19 in all competitions.

He leads the league for chances created per 90. Two-footed delivery and audacious touches, including a rabona set-up for Phil Foden against Sunderland, have travelled with him.

At the bottom, West Ham’s 1-0 home loss to Fulham was an 11th league defeat at the London Stadium in 2025. Another setback against Brighton on Tuesday would set a club record, the safety gap is five points, and Wolves away next is pivotal.

Source: NY Times