Arteta Seeks Emirates Revenge as Arsenal Aim to Make Villa Suffer
Right now, all eyes are on the Emirates Stadium, because Arsenal versus Aston Villa feels like much more than just another league game. There is unfinished business here, and Mikel Arteta has made it clear that he wants every team that comes to North London to suffer, especially Villa. The memory of that late, cruel defeat at Villa Park earlier this month is still fresh, and it has clearly been sitting in the minds of everyone connected with Arsenal.
That reverse fixture was one of those games that seemed settled, only for everything to be snatched away at the very end. Arsenal thought they had done enough to earn a point after Leandro Trossard cancelled out Matty Cash’s opener, but then came Emi BuendÃa’s 95th-minute winner, struck with virtually the last kick of the match. It was described as cruel by Arteta, and it was only the team’s second league defeat of the season. Since then, that loss has been replayed mentally again and again, not as a burden, but as fuel.
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Since Villa Park, Arsenal have not been beaten. Five wins have been put together across all competitions, even though finishing chances has sometimes been a struggle. At home, chances have been created in huge numbers, with shots flying in against Wolves, Crystal Palace and Brighton. Goals have come, though not always in a straightforward way, with several being turned into opposition own goals. Still, the pressure has been relentless, and that is exactly how Arteta wants it. The idea is simple: when teams come to the Emirates, they should feel overwhelmed.
Aston Villa, though, arrive in frightening form. An incredible run has been put together, capped by a comeback win over Chelsea that extended their winning streak to 11 matches, matching a club record that has stood for more than a century. Even though their manager has tried to play down title talk, their league position tells its own story. Arteta has openly acknowledged them as genuine contenders, pointing to their consistency and the clear identity built under Unai Emery.
From an Arsenal perspective, this game is being treated almost like a second leg. Martin Ødegaard has spoken about using the defeat as motivation, comparing the situation to a cup tie where a response is demanded. The players believe they could have won the away match, and now they see this as the moment to prove it.
Team news could also play a role. Gabriel Magalhães has been eased back after injury, while defensive absences remain a concern. Even so, the mood is one of focus rather than fear. Revenge is not being framed as anger, but as hunger. And if Arteta’s words are anything to go by, Villa should expect a night where nothing is given easily, and where suffering is very much part of the plan.
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