Arsenal Manager Arteta Cautious Ahead of Clash with Villa
Despite securing a victory at Villa Park in August, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is not underestimating Unai Emery’s Aston Villa team. He acknowledges that their two losses to Villa last season played a significant role in their defeat in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal, currently in second place in the league, is set to face seventh-placed Villa on Saturday with the aim of closing the gap on league leaders Liverpool, who have been in excellent form, winning three consecutive games in all competitions.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Arteta emphasized the quality of Villa, stating, “They are a good side, that’s why they beat us last season. We know the difficulty of the team that they are, that’s why they are performing so well. Great players, and a great coach.“
Following Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, Arteta expressed his satisfaction at closing the gap with Liverpool, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Nottingham Forest on the same day. However, Liverpool still maintains a four-point lead over Arsenal with a game in hand.
Arteta emphasized the importance of striving for excellence, stating, “We’re playing to win and that’s exactly where we want to be. The pressure comes from within. You have to thrive to be the best that you possibly can be.“
While remaining tight-lipped on specific transfer targets, Arteta hinted at the possibility of adding a striker in the January transfer window to bolster his team. “We are actively trying to find the best possible solution, but we’ll have to wait and see what we can do,” he added.
