Unai Emery's New Chapter with Nicolas Jackson at Aston Villa

Unai Emery is banking on a new No 9 and a clean emotional break.

The Aston Villa manager expects Nicolas Jackson to complete his £47.5m move from Chelsea in time to face Arsenal on Monday, and he did not hide what that moment represents. For him, Jackson is not just a signing. He is the start of “a new chapter.”

Watkins out, Jackson in

Villa have moved quickly after losing Ollie Watkins, their talisman and record Premier League-era goalscorer, who turned down a new contract to force through a £50m switch to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. Neither transfer has been formally confirmed yet, but the shape of Villa’s future is already clear.

Jackson was Emery’s first-choice replacement. The deal could climb to a club-record £65m with add-ons, underlining how central the 23-year-old is to the manager’s plans.

The way Watkins left hurt. Deeply. Emery admitted he was reduced to tears and revealed the England striker apologised to him and the dressing room after refusing to play in last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Brighton, a decision that left Villa without a recognised striker.

“I can tell you his commitment and his behaviour was fantastic always,” Emery said. “He told us after the match he was sorry and he told us that he made a mistake, that he was wrong. We accepted it, the players as well, because he always had very good behaviour and commitment with the club, with us and with me.

“For me, he is a fantastic guy, an even more fantastic a guy than a player. I told him bye with a huge hug and a small tear but now it’s a new chapter here with Nicolas Jackson. A new chapter, we replace him and of course all the best to Watkins in Saudi. With Nicolas Jackson replacing him, we are of course happy.”

Legacy and backlash

Watkins leaves with 91 goals in 221 league appearances, the most by any Villa player in the Premier League era. The refusal to play at Brighton could easily have soured that legacy. Emery will not allow it.

He brushed aside suggestions that the striker’s standing among supporters is now tainted.

“The four years working with him have been a high-level relationship with him as a professional,” he said. “Last week I was a little bit disappointed. I was disappointed, but we spoke about it, and now clear. One mistake is not closing all the good things he did here. For the supporters as well. He is class, and I think it’s a legacy here.”

The emotion is real, but Emery has already pivoted. Watkins is the past. Jackson is the present.

Arsenal next, and a team in transition

Villa’s 4-0 collapse at Brighton has left scars and questions. Arsenal, the champions, arrive on Monday, and Emery knows a repeat of that display would bring a second straight defeat.

“Maybe we are not performing like we were performing but the objective is to get to the same way we did, the same performances we had,” he said. “We will need time. Last year we showed we needed time. On Monday we will see, [whether] we will need more time or if some players are progressing quickly.”

Leon Goretzka, signed from Bayern Munich on Thursday, could be thrown straight in for his debut against Mikel Arteta’s side. Zion Suzuki, recruited for £30m from Parma, is also in line for his first appearance as Villa prepare to lose Emiliano Martínez, who is close to a £7.5m move to Chelsea.

Emery is trying to rebuild on the fly: new striker, new midfielder, new goalkeeper, and a title-chasing opponent waiting to expose any cracks.

Chelsea’s frantic endgame

While Villa reshape their spine, Chelsea are hurtling towards a frantic end to the window.

Alongside the imminent arrival of Martínez, the club have explored a move for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara as they wait for Manchester City to finally act on their interest in Enzo Fernández. For now, City have not made formal contact over a deal, even though Fernández is desperate to leave before Tuesday night’s deadline.

Chelsea are drawing up contingencies. Camara features on a shortlist that also includes Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. The Senegal international would not be a like-for-like replacement for Fernández but is viewed as a way to deepen Xabi Alonso’s midfield options if the Argentina international does get his move to the champions.

That will not be simple. Bournemouth have made it clear they do not want to sell Scott. Palace have taken the same stance on Wharton. Arsenal, for their part, are understood to have rejected an enquiry for Martín Zubimendi.

Noise around Fernández has suggested a fee close to the £106.7m Chelsea paid to sign him, but the message from Stamford Bridge is blunt: he goes only on their terms. Sources have indicated City may have to go beyond Chelsea’s initial £120m asking price for the 25-year-old.

Villa turn the page with Jackson. Chelsea wait for City to blink. The clock is ticking on both clubs’ plans for the season.