Unai Emery, the former Arsenal manager, has advised Aston Villa to adapt to the pressure of being considered title contenders following their recent impressive performances. Villa, who recently defeated reigning champions Manchester City, continued their winning streak by securing a 1-0 victory against Arsenal, moving within two points of the current league leaders, Liverpool, and one point behind Arsenal themselves. John McGinn, Villa’s goalscorer and captain, humorously mentioned that he is banning the “T-word” (referring to the term ‘title contenders’) in light of their position.
When asked about his team’s ability to handle the increased talk surrounding their title prospects, Emery responded positively, stating that it is beneficial for them. He emphasized that their current standing is well-deserved and expects more attention to be directed towards Villa. Emery’s message to his players, the media, and the supporters remains unchanged: to remain excited and motivated. However, he also acknowledged that despite their impressive performance, there are still seven teams ahead of them who are considered stronger contenders for a top-seven position.
On the other side, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, was left frustrated by the decisions made by the officials during the match. Arteta, who was serving a touchline ban, criticized the referee’s choice not to award Arsenal a penalty in the second half when Douglas Luiz fouled Gabriel Jesus inside the box. Additionally, Arteta witnessed Eddie Nketiah’s 90th-minute goal being disallowed by VAR due to Kai Havertz’s handball. Although Arteta had strong opinions regarding the penalty claim, he chose not to elaborate on them.
Overall, Emery, McGinn, and Arteta provided their perspectives on Villa’s rise as potential title contenders. Emery urged Villa to embrace the pressure, while McGinn remained cautious and acknowledged the need for improvement. Meanwhile, Arteta expressed his frustration with the officiating decisions but refrained from expanding on his opinions. The race for the title continues, and Villa’s progress will be closely monitored as the season unfolds.
