High-flying Aston Villa and Unai Emery present latest challenge to Arsenal's title credentials

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Aston Villa is the form team in the Premier League and on Saturday presents the latest test to Arsenal's title credentials.

An added element of intrigue is another reunion between Unai Emery and Arsenal, which fired the Spanish coach in 2019 after he'd overseen its worst run of results in 27 years.

“For what they’ve been doing, the way they’ve been playing and winning matches, certainly it’s a team that is in great form and we know that,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “We know obviously the manager and the incredible job he’s done there as well, so we know the task tomorrow."

Emery has long since restored his reputation after leaving Arsenal, winning the Europa League for a third time in his career, with Villarreal. His return to England has underlined his status as one of the elite coaches in Europe, transforming Villa from a relegation-fighting team to a serial contender for Champions League qualification.

Villa is punching above its weight again this term and is up to third in the standings after eight wins from its last nine league games.

A win against first-place Arsenal at Villa Park would cut its gap to the leader to three points.

“I think when you look at Unai, his career, his motivation level, everywhere he’s been an impact that he’s done, it’s all been remarkable,” Arteta said.

Such heady heights hardly looked possible after Emery's team started the season without a win in its first five games after a frustrating transfer window that relied on deadline-day loan deals for Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott to bolster the squad.

Villa, a Champions League quarterfinalist last season, lost two of its first three league games and was also knocked out of the League Cup.

It seemed the remarkable rise under Emery, who was hired in 2022 with the club one place above the relegation zone, was at risk of hitting the wall. But the coach has confounded expectations again and has been shortlisted for Premier League manager of the month for November.

Arsenal is five points clear at the top, ahead of second-place Manchester City. It is unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions, dating back to September, but has drawn its last two away games at Sunderland and Chelsea.

City, meanwhile, is at home to a Sunderland team that held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield midweek.

Liverpool's latest test after just two wins in nine league games comes at Leeds, which stunned Chelsea last time out by winning 3-1 at Elland Road.

Chelsea is at Bournemouth on Saturday after failing to win its last two games in the league.

Will Mohamed Salah start after being dropped for Liverpool's last two games? He came off the bench against Sunderland, but still couldn't inspire his team to a much-needed win.

Matheus Cunha returns to Wolverhampton with new club Manchester United on Monday. The Brazil international returned from injury for the 1-1 draw with West Ham on Thursday and this would be his first game against Wolves since leaving the club in the summer.

Arsenal is waiting to see if Declan Rice will be available after he limped off during the win against Brentford midweek. Cristhian Mosquera is a doubt with an ankle problem and William Saliba has been out for two games with an unspecified injury.

Sandro Tonali faces a late test to see if he will be available for Newcastle after taking a knock in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham.

Thomas Frank faces former club Brentford, with his Tottenham team in desperate need of turning its home form around.

Spurs have gone six league games without a win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with its only victory coming against Burnley on the opening day of the season.

Frank's position as manager is coming under scrutiny, with his team's home form particularly concerning.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta gives instructions during a Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Brentford in London, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring during a Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Brentford in London, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Aston Villa's Boubacar Kamara, foreground, celebrates with Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers after scoring his side's first goal, during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers, at Villa Park, in Birmingham, England, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

Aston Villa's manager Unai Emery before the Europa League soccer match between Aston Villa and Young Boys in Birmingham, England, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Netflix's $72 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. studio and its film and television operations drew quick reactions Friday.

Film and television industry entities including guilds and the lobbying group for movie theater owners criticized the deal, warning it would harm consumers and cinema owners.

In announcing the deal, Warner Bros. and Netflix executives touted the deal's benefits. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said the deal “will ensure people everywhere will continue to enjoy the world’s most resonant stories for generations to come,” while Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said it would “give audiences more of what they love.”

Here's a roundup of notable early reactions to the deal:

“Netflix’s stated business model does not support theatrical exhibition. In fact, it is the opposite. Theaters will close, communities will suffer, jobs will be lost.”

“Today’s news that Warner Bros. Discovery has accepted a purchase bid is an alarming escalation of the consolidation that threatens the entire entertainment industry, the democratic public it serves, and the First Amendment itself.” — in a statement

“As we navigate dynamic times of economic and technological change, our industry, together with policymakers, must find a way forward that protects producers’ livelihoods and real theatrical distribution, and that fosters creativity, promotes opportunities for workers and artists, empowers consumers with choices, and upholds freedom of speech. This is the test that the Netflix deal must pass. Our legacy studios are more than content libraries – within their vaults are the character and culture of our nation.” — in a statement.

“Netflix’s $82 billion attempt to buy Warner Bros. would be the largest media takeover in history — and it raises serious red flags for consumers, creators, movie theaters, and local businesses alike. One company should not have full vertical control of the content and the distribution pipeline that delivers it. And combining two of the largest streaming platforms is a textbook horizontal Antitrust problem. Prices, choice, and creative freedom are at stake." — in a statement.

“This deal looks like an anti-monopoly nightmare. A Netflix-Warner Bros. would create one massive media giant with control of close to half of the streaming market — threatening to force Americans into higher subscription prices and fewer choices over what and how they watch, while putting American workers at risk.” — in a statement.

The world’s largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent. The outcome would eliminate jobs, push down wages, worsen conditions for all entertainment workers, raise prices for consumers, and reduce the volume and diversity of content for all viewers. ... This merger must be blocked.” — in a statement.

“Repeated consolidation in this industry has already cost so many film and television jobs, and any merger should be evaluated on its impacts on competition and employment.” — in a statement. Her district includes Hollywood and the areas where Netflix's headquarters and the Warner Bros. studio are located.

“If I was tasked with doing so, I could not think of a more effective way to reduce competition in Hollywood than selling WBD to Netflix.” — in a post on X.

FILE - Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., attends a news conference about SNAP benefits, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

FILE - Rep.-elect Laura Friedman, D-Calif, talks to reporters after attending new Congress member orientation, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

FILE - WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar attends the 15th annual CNN Heroes All-Star Tribute at the American Museum of Natural History on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

FiLE - Michael O'Leary, president and CEO of Cinema United, addresses the audience during the "State of the Industry" presentation at CinemaCon, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - Ted Sarandos arrives at the premiere of "The Electric State" on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at The Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - David Zaslav arrives at the season three premiere of "The White Lotus" on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, at Paramount Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - The Netflix logo is shown in this photo from the company's website on Feb. 2, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)