Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his Premier League leaders will “bounce back” from the disappointment of Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 loss to Aston Villa — a result that has blown the title race wide open.
Emiliano Buendía secured the win for Villa with the final kick of a pulsating match at Villa Park, ending Arsenal’s 18-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Leandro Trossard had earlier come off the bench to cancel out Matty Cash’s first-half opener.
The defeat — Arsenal’s first since losing to Liverpool in August and only their second of the season — reduced their lead at the top, bringing Villa within three points. Manchester City also had the chance to close the gap later in the day against Sunderland.
Despite concerns about Arsenal’s past late-season collapses, Arteta insists his players will respond positively.
“That is the league,” he said. “We went 18 games unbeaten and we are still there, close to each other. Now it is time to bounce back. We will learn from today and it will make us a better team.”
Arteta refused to dwell on the defensive errors that cost his side, even as injuries continue to mount. Arsenal are currently without three centre-backs, and the manager confirmed that Cristhian Mosquera’s ankle injury is “much more than expected”.
“He is going to be out for weeks, unfortunately,” Arteta said.
Villa’s Rise Under Emery Continues
While Unai Emery has overseen a remarkable turnaround at Villa — winning nine of their last 10 matches after failing to win any of their first five — the Spaniard downplayed talk of a title challenge.
“I am not thinking about the title,” he said. “If we were in game 35 like we are now, maybe I could speak different. Arsenal are favourites.”
Still, Villa’s surge has turned them into serious contenders in a season that now promises even more twists in the race for Premier League supremacy.
