Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has said there is no good relationship between his club and Chelsea despite the frequent movement of players between the two sides.

Emery made the remarks ahead of Villa’s Premier League clash with Arsenal, following a busy transfer window that saw several players move between the clubs.

Emiliano Martinez recently joined Chelsea from Villa, while Morgan Rogers also moved to the London club in a £117 million deal.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Jackson joined Villa from Chelsea in a deal worth up to £65 million, while Alejandro Garnacho also moved to Villa on loan with a conditional obligation to buy.

Emery said the frequent transfers should not be interpreted as evidence of a close relationship between the clubs.

He explained that their interactions were based on transfers and financial transactions rather than friendship.

The Villa manager said both clubs remained competitors on the pitch and would seek to defeat each other whenever they met.

Villa have also signed several other players from Chelsea in recent seasons, including Ian Maatsen, while Chelsea previously acquired players from Villa.

Emery said he was happy for players who moved on to new opportunities but remained determined to compete against Chelsea.

The comments come as Villa continue rebuilding their squad following a busy transfer window, with Emery admitting that the team would need time to develop cohesion.