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Arsenal’s narrow 2-1 loss to Aston Villa may have opened up the Premier League title race, but Mikel Arteta believes his squad is prepared to respond with the same intensity that has carried them through an impressive season. Emiliano Buendia sealed Villa’s win with the final kick of a high-tempo match that ended Arsenal’s remarkable 18-game unbeaten run across all competitions. Leandro Trossard had provided hope with a second-half equaliser after Matty Cash struck early, but individual mistakes and late pressure proved costly.
The setback was only Arsenal’s second defeat of the campaign and their first since August. Despite the loss, they remain firmly in the title battle, though Villa’s rise has tightened the gap at the top. Manchester City’s match later in the day offered another opportunity for momentum to shift, adding more weight to the competitive landscape that Arteta highlighted.
Arsenal’s past struggles with holding onto title leads have been well documented. After three consecutive seasons finishing in second place and nearly two decades without lifting the league trophy, the pressure around their current run is significant. Still, Arteta dismissed concerns, pointing to the team’s resilience and consistent performance levels.
“That is the league, you go to Old Trafford, you go to St James’ Park, you go to Chelsea, you come here, we have been in a lot of difficult grounds,” he said. “The result could have been different, the reality is not. We went 18 games unbeaten and still we are there, close to each other. That is the level of the league, we know that. That is the opportunity that we have ahead of us and that’s it. Now it is time to bounce back, they have given me all the right reasons to think we are going to perform at the same level. We move on. We will learn from today and it will make us a better team.”
How Will Arsenal Respond to the Growing Pressure?
Arteta stressed that the season still has a long way to go, reminding supporters and critics that the Premier League demands consistency in every phase. He avoided dwelling on frustration, especially given the defensive challenges his squad currently faces. Arsenal are without three centre-backs, and the situation worsened when Arteta confirmed that Cristhian Mosquera’s ankle injury is more serious than first expected.
“He is going to be out for weeks, unfortunately,” he said. “It is much more than we were expecting, so he is going to be out for weeks.”
Even with those setbacks, Arteta emphasised that adversity is part of the competition. “It’s five months into the competition and so far we have coped. We are going to have to prove we can cope again, again, again for another six months,” he said. “People who think at this moment we are going to be 10 points clear live in a different world.”
Are Aston Villa Now Real Title Contenders?
Aston Villa’s transformation under Unai Emery has been one of the most unexpected storylines of the season. After dropping into the relegation zone earlier, the club has surged with nine wins from their last ten matches. While their form places them within reach of the top spot, Emery is still avoiding talk of a title chase.
“I am not thinking about the title, I know 38 matches is going to be very difficult, we are not contenders,” he said. “If we were in game 35 like we are now, maybe I could speak different. In the table, of course, now we are feeling better than two months ago. But Arsenal are favourites to win this title, of course, we must get balance, because we got balance when we were in the bottom.”
With both clubs navigating different forms of pressure, the league’s atmosphere continues to tighten. Arsenal’s next response will reveal whether this defeat becomes a turning point or simply a momentary stumble in a much longer race.
By Yockshard Enyendi
