Darren Bent shares whether Emery or Arteta is the better manager

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Darren Bent has shared who he believes is the better manager out of Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery as Arsenal prepare to travel to Aston Villa today.

Bent was speaking on talkSPORT as the Villans look to put a dent in the Gunners’ title push, while perhaps strengthening their own challenge for what would be a monumental achievement.

Certainly, Unai Emery has silenced any of the doubters he had following his difficult spell at Arsenal. Emery took over at Villa when they were on the periphery of a relegation battle just last year.

Darren Bent says Unai Emery is a better manager than Mikel Arteta

The Villans now find themselves third in the table after beating Manchester City 1-0 in midweek.

Of course, the team four points clear of them is Arsenal. Mikel Arteta is looking to take his side one step further than last year.

The Spaniard has definitely vindicated the club’s decision to appoint him as Emery’s successor. However, Darren Bent believes that he has some way to go before he is considered the better manager of the two.

“Unai Emery, for me, is a better manager, you can’t hide that fact,” he told talkSPORT. “More experience, won more trophies, won some of the biggest. I know he’s not won the biggest, which is the Champions League, but four Europa Leagues is incredible. So by that definition, you have to say that he is a better manager.”

A debate to definitely revisit in the future

Bent’s criteria does make it impossible for Arteta to compete with Emery. Arteta has only been a manager for just over four years.

It is probably also difficult to draw too many conclusions from their respective spells at the Emirates. Ultimately, whoever followed Arsène Wenger was facing an unbelievable task. Arsenal were in decline, and were losing someone who had led the club for more than two decades.

Had Emery not been sacked previously, there is also an argument that Arsenal may have found it much more challenging to remain patient with Arteta during his own difficult days.

Ultimately, they are two world-class managers at different stages of their careers. Emery has the clear advantage when it comes to trophies won.

But Arteta could make history and become the first manager to win the Premier League title in his first job as a number one.