Gunners Boss Hopes Revisiting “Cruel” Loss Will Fuel Title Charge Against In-Form Villa
Arsenal’s dramatic late defeat at Aston Villa earlier this month dealt a sharp blow to their Premier League title ambitions, but manager Mikel Arteta believes reliving that disappointment could fire up his squad for Tuesday’s crucial rematch at the Emirates.
Villa, now under former Arsenal coach Unai Emery, arrive in London riding an 11-match winning streak across all competitions and sit just three points behind Arteta’s side. The Gunners currently lead the table by two points over Manchester City, raising the stakes even higher for Tuesday’s clash.
Asked whether reviewing the painful Villa loss could motivate his players, Arteta told reporters on Monday, “If you use that motivation and that hunger in the right manner, for sure. We’ll watch it back. I have a few ideas and things that we have to do better. It was quite cruel, the way we lost it. But we learned from it.”
Last season, Villa’s league double over Arsenal played a key part in undermining the North London club’s title challenge—the latest in a string of near misses, having finished second in each of the last three campaigns. Arsenal’s wait for a first Premier League crown now stretches back to 2004.
Arteta acknowledged Villa as genuine contenders this term, despite Emery downplaying their chances. “They are meant to be there,” Arteta said. “Look what they are doing and how consistent they’ve been, what Unai has done with the club. They fully deserve that credit.”
Injury concerns complicate Arsenal’s preparations, with Kai Havertz, Cristhian Mosquera, and Ben White among those sidelined. Arteta suggested the club may look to reinforce in the January transfer window, stating, “We have to be actively looking… our job is to be always very prepared.”
When asked about Arsenal’s unusual run of four own goals forced this month, Arteta pointed to persistent pressure as the cause—a trait he hopes to see again on Tuesday. “That’s what we want, that every opponent that comes here suffers… We know them, what they are doing, and it’s a beautiful game to prepare and play.”
Tuesday’s match promises high drama, with Arteta hoping his squad can turn the memory of recent pain into a performance that keeps their title dreams alive.
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