Aston Villa manager Unai Emery says Aston Villa and Chelsea remain fierce rivals despite completing several transfer deals in recent seasons. Emery made it clear that the clubs are business partners only when it comes to transfers, but on the pitch they are still enemies. Speaking before Aston Villa's Premier League match against Arsenal, Emery said both clubs want to beat each other every time they meet. He said the recent player transfers do not mean the relationship between the clubs is friendly. Chelsea and Aston Villa have completed several major transfers during the current summer window. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez became the latest player to leave Villa for Chelsea after the London club agreed a £7.5 million deal. Earlier this summer, Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117 million. The transfer became a record fee for a British player. Villa also signed Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea in a deal worth up to £65 million, while Alejandro Garnacho joined Villa on loan with a conditional obligation to buy. Emery said the deals were based on business, not friendship. He explained that both clubs are trying to build stronger teams and compete for the same goals. The transfer activity between the clubs has continued over the past few seasons. Aston Villa signed Axel Disasi on loan from Chelsea last season before making Ian Maatsen a permanent signing in 2024 for £37.5 million. Players have also moved in the other direction. Carney Chukwuemeka joined Chelsea from Villa in 2022, while Omari Kellyman moved to the London club in 2024 before later joining Strasbourg. Villa also lost set-piece coach Austin MacPhee this summer after he left Emery's coaching staff to join Chelsea. Despite the busy transfer pipeline, Emery insisted the rivalry remains strong. He said Chelsea signed players like Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Martinez to make their own team stronger, while Villa have done the same with players from Chelsea. Emery added that he is happy for players who get new opportunities, but admitted he is not happy to see Chelsea become stronger through Villa players. Aston Villa are now preparing for a home match against Arsenal after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Brighton in their previous league game. Emery said his team must respond quickly and show a much better performance. The Villa manager could hand debuts to Nicolas Jackson, Leon Goretzka, and goalkeeper Zion Suzuki at Villa Park. Goretzka joined Villa after winning the UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2020. Emery admitted Villa are rebuilding after a busy transfer window. He said the club needs time to shape the new squad but must still compete from the start of the season. The manager also praised Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta before Monday's match. Emery said Arsenal have improved every season under Arteta and believes they are the favorites to win both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. Emery managed Arsenal before Arteta took charge and said he enjoys watching the current Arsenal team. He praised the club's investment in players and the progress made during Arteta's seven years in charge. The Aston Villa manager also spoke about the timing of the transfer window. He said the late closing date has made it difficult for clubs like Villa to prepare properly because offers for key players continued after the season had already started. Villa have lost several important players this summer, including Emiliano Martinez and striker Ollie Watkins, who completed a move to Al-Hilal. Emery said constant transfer activity has made it harder to build a settled team before the new campaign. He hopes the transfer window closes quickly so the club can focus on the players who remain and prepare for the rest of the Premier League season.