Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has issued a defiant message ahead of his side's pivotal Premier League showdown with Aston Villa, declaring his intention to make the visitors 'suffer' at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
Learning from a 'Cruel' Defeat
The match is a highly anticipated rematch, coming just over three weeks after Villa ended Arsenal's 11-game unbeaten run in dramatic fashion. On December 6 at Villa Park, a stoppage-time winner from Emi Buendia secured a 2-1 victory for the hosts in what Arteta described as a 'cruel' defeat for his team.
Arteta acknowledged the painful nature of that loss but insisted his squad has learned valuable lessons. 'It was quite cruel on us, the way we lost it,' the Spaniard admitted. 'But we have learned from it and we can use that as motivation and hunger in the right manner.'
Villa's Title Credentials Acknowledged
With Villa sitting third in the table, just three points behind league leaders Arsenal, Arteta was unequivocal in his praise for Unai Emery's team. When asked if Villa are genuine championship contenders, he gave a resounding endorsement of their form.
'They are meant to be there when you look at what they are doing and how consistent they have been and what Unai has done with the club,' Arteta stated. 'They fully deserve that credit because they are doing it on the pitch where you have to show your level.'
Villa's momentum is formidable, having secured an 11th consecutive Premier League victory with their 2-1 win at Chelsea, putting them seven points clear of fourth-placed Liverpool.
Arteta's Emirates Blueprint and January Plans
Despite recognising Villa's threat, Arteta's focus is firmly on his own team's performance. He has set a clear target for the Emirates encounter, inspired by their dominant display against Brighton.
'But every opponent that comes here, we want them to suffer, and be as dominant as we were against Brighton for the majority of the game,' he declared. 'We know we will have a tough match. We will watch the last game back and I have a few ideas on things that we have to do better.'
Looking beyond the immediate fixture, Arteta also addressed squad planning. After a summer spend exceeding £250 million on eight new signings, and with injuries testing the squad's depth, he confirmed the club is actively looking at the January transfer window.
'The window is there and I mean we are Arsenal and we have to be looking at it,' he said. 'Our job is to always be very prepared because something can happen... When you look across the other clubs, they have 24 or 25 squad players.' He emphasised the critical importance of player availability for the gruelling season ahead.
