Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has protested against the yellow card he received in his side's 2-2 draw with Arsenal.

The Villa boss was handed his third caution of the season, meaning he will now serve a one-match touchline ban on Saturday against West Ham. He was booked by referee Chris Kavanagh for kicking a ball in the technical area, but claimed that he was simply returning it to the players.

"I don't know," Emery told Sky Sports when asked why he had been cautioned. "I kicked the ball! I only kicked the ball in the direction of the players. You're smiling! Next match I am out, okay. I can see it. I didn't deserve a yellow card."

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Emery's previous bookings came in successive home league matches against Everton and Wolves earlier in this campaign. Villa won both matches, coming from behind to claim six points from six.

Their home record this season has been strong, but on the road they have dropped a chunk of points. However, after coming back from two goals behind to avoid defeat against Arsenal and beating Everton at Goodison Park in midweek, Villa appear to have turned a corner away from home.

Villa play their penultimate Champions League game against AS Monaco on Tuesday night (5:45pm), before Emery will watch his side take on West Ham from the stands at Villa Park. Matches against Celtic and Wolves then await the following week.

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