Wright expressed concern about his former team’s performance under pressure against Aston Villa. He acknowledged Villa’s intensity in the second half, where they scored two goals with just two shots on target, and praised their ruthless finishing. Wright described Villa as the braver team and expressed admiration for their performance, noting that injuries and midweek games had affected Arsenal’s performance in the second half.

Arteta has addressed his team’s mental resilience and emphasized the need for his players to react and maintain belief as the title race approaches its conclusion. He highlighted Arsenal’s strong first-half performance against a tough opponent and the shift in momentum leading to their conceding two goals in the second half. Arteta sees this as a test for his players to demonstrate leadership and character.

Looking ahead, Arsenal faces a challenging series of fixtures as they aim to win silverware by the end of the season. Arteta views this as an opportunity for his players to respond to their setback against Villa, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming games for the club’s ambitions. Arteta acknowledged his players’ frustration and sadness but pointed out the opportunity for Arsenal to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 14 years, describing it as a significant moment for the club.

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