Emery likes to ease new players into his teams.
Youri Tielemans did not start a Premier League game until November 2023 after joining in the summer, but became an integral part of Emery’s machine.
Only Joao Gomes, out of 10 new summer signings, started Villa’s opening Premier League game. Just two – Zion Suzuki and Nicolas Jackson – started the next.
Garnacho’s situation feels extreme though, having been left on the bench for the Carabao Cup win at Coventry when Emery made seven changes.
Academy product George Hemmings, who joined Villa from Forest as a teenager, has started the season well to earn Emery’s full trust and start ahead of Garnacho.
Ibrahim Mbaye, a £47m arrival from Paris St-Germain, made his first Villa start in the 3-1 victory at Coventry and is also preferred to Garnacho for now.
A facial injury in early August hampered Garnacho’s pre-season and meant he missed the Super Cup defeat by Paris St-Germain, adding to the complications.
Emery needs his players to understand their roles and his methods before having full faith in them and he expects Garnacho to catch up.
“Continue working. Work, work, train, work,” Emery said when asked about Garnacho’s absence from the pitch.
“When he can have minutes to play, try to play well. He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.
“George is playing fantastic. Alysson is also understanding things well and is giving us things I want. [Ibrahim] Mbaye also responded well.
“We want a competitive team and players to compete in the style we have. Garnacho is a little bit behind because of some circumstances we had in pre-season. It is time to be patient for the time he needs.”
Garnacho, who first made his name as a livewire teenager, has shown in the past he can torment defences at Premier League level.
He spoke about needing time to adapt to a “different club and a different place” at Chelsea.
A further season of struggle would be a significant setback.
Emery is clearly yet to be convinced by what he sees in training, despite being a long-term Garnacho admirer.
Villa wanted more pace in their side and Crysencio Summerville was considered before he moved to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal.
Chelsea’s £117m signing of Morgan Rogers from Villa left a gap for Emery to fill and Garnacho was available. A positive relationship between the clubs allowed for easy discussions.
Striker Jackson also joined from Chelsea for a Villa club record £65m and there have been eight deals between the clubs in the past four years.