Premier League LIVE: Aston Villa vs Arsenal – scores, stats & updates
“I had a feeling we were going to win the game.”published at 2:59 p.m. GMT
FT: Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal
Arsenal
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking to BBC MOTD:
“It’s very painful, especially after all the effort in the game. It was an open game, congratulations to Villa, they’re a very good team. We conceded a big chance in the first half with Ollie Watkins’ goal. We had some dominance in the second half and I had a feeling we were going to win the game, so to lose it in the way we did is painful. Eighteen games unbeaten, you lose a game and that’s what it’s, it’s football.
“That’s how it is. We had a great chance when Declan (Rice) passed the ball to Noni (Madueke), they won a throw-in at the other end and scored. That’s football and the quality of this league.”
On Léandro Trossard: “He was really good. We knew he was another player coming back from injury and he started feeling it again, so we had to pull him.”
On the rebound: “The level of consistency the boys have shown over this period is incredible, so I can only think we can do it again.”