Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has given his verdict on Aston Villa's chances of fighting for the Premier League title
Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Aston Villa's Unai Emery
Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Aston Villa's Unai Emery(Image: PA)
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Mikel Arteta claims Aston Villa are in the title race after beating his Arsenal side, but he warns that it’s a long season ahead.
Villa defeated the Gunners thanks to Emi Buendia’s last-minute strike in the 95th minute, as he found the back of the net in front of the Holte End inside a crowded penalty area.
David Raya was left helpless as Buendia placed the ball into the corner, sending Villa Park into raptures.
Matty Cash had opened the scoring 10 minutes before half-time, but Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard equalised shortly after the start of the second half.
“We are extremely disappointed about how we lost the game, but first of all, congratulations to Villa because they are a really good side and they are really good at what they do,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference.
“We had some difficulties in the first half because we gave away some dangerous give-aways. They are especially dangerous against them. Apart from the Watkins situation, I don’t recall anything apart from the goal.
“In the second half, we started really well and we generated more chances, including scoring the goal. My feeling was that we were going to go on and win the game.
“We had two chances to score, the last one when Declan put the ball across the box and we didn’t capitalise on that.
“They played a long ball, we put it out for a throw-in, they played fast, and caused a lot of chaos in the box, and then they put it in the top corner. This is the quality of this league.
“You go to Old Trafford, you go to St. James’ Park, you go to Chelsea, you come here… we have been in a lot of difficult grounds and today the result could have been different, but the reality is that it is not.
“We were unbeaten in 18 games and now the table is close. That is the level of the league. Now it is time to bounce back and they gave me the right reasons to think we can continue at the same level.”
Asked if Villa are in the title race, Arteta responded: “They are when you look at where they are, how they play and how they beat some big teams at home. Everybody is going to play everybody.
“At the moment they are where they are and we are there as well.”
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