Mikel Arteta has declared his intention to make every opponent "suffer" at the Emirates Stadium, setting a fierce tone for Arsenal's crucial Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Tuesday night. The match is a chance for the Gunners to exact revenge for a dramatic, last-minute defeat at Villa Park earlier this month.
A Painful Memory Fuels Arsenal's Fire
The reverse fixture on December 9th ended in what Arteta described as a "quite cruel" manner for his league-leading side. After Leandro Trossard's equaliser cancelled out Matty Cash's opener, Villa's Emi Buendía struck a 95th-minute winner with the game's final kick to secure a 2-1 victory. That result inflicted only Arsenal's second league loss of the campaign.
"We'll watch it back," said Arteta, reflecting on the defeat. "I have a few ideas and things that we have to do better. And it was quite cruel, as well, the way we lost it. But yeah, we learned from it." He added that the painful memory could serve as powerful motivation if channelled correctly.
Villa's Remarkable Run and Title Credentials
Unai Emery's Aston Villa arrive in north London in formidable form, having equalled a club record by winning their last 11 matches in all competitions. This stunning sequence includes a comeback victory over Chelsea on Saturday. Since a winless start to their Premier League season, Villa have collected more points than any other side in the division.
While Emery plays down title talk, Arteta is unequivocal about the threat posed by the Midlands club, who sit just three points behind Arsenal in third. "They are meant to be there," he stated. "Look what they are doing and how consistent they have been, what Unai has done with the club. So I think they fully deserve that credit."
Own-Goals and Injury Concerns for Gunners
Arsenal's recent home form has seen them dominate possession and chances but struggle for ruthless finishing. In their last three Emirates outings against Wolves, Crystal Palace, and Brighton, they attempted a combined 65 shots but scored only five goals. Notably, four of those were own-goals forced from opposition players.
When asked if this represented good fortune, Arteta's response was pointed: "Well, that's what we want – that every opponent that comes here suffers."
The match could see a defensive boost with centre-back Gabriel Magalhães potentially returning to the starting lineup after a substitute appearance against Brighton. However, longer-term absentees Jurriën Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are likely to miss out again, with Declan Rice potentially deputising at right-back once more.
These injury issues are influencing Arsenal's January transfer plans. "We're going to be really aware of the situation and the timescale of certain players," Arteta confirmed. "We're Arsenal, and we have to be looking at it: 'OK, what do we need?' And we have to be actively looking."
With history also against them—Arsenal have lost three of their last five meetings with Villa—Arteta's demand for 'suffering' is a clear signal that his team must be at their relentless best to overcome a genuine title rival and banish the ghosts of December.
