Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard insists his side made “fundamental” defensive errors in the 2-1 defeat against Arsenal.
Villa fell to their fourth Premier League defeat in their first five games to the new season as Gabriel Martinelli responded to Douglas Luiz’s second-half equaliser. Gunners’ striker Gabriel Jesus put Mikel Arteta’s side ahead in the first half, but Villa struggled to create anything in the way of goalscoring chances of their own and only restored parity through another corner kick from Luiz which found its way into the back of the net.
Villa failed to hold on to what would have been a valuable point on the road, as Arsenal retained their 100% start to the season through Martinelli’s late winner, which came just four minutes after Luiz’s leveller. Gerrard was bitterly disappointed with his side’s key defensive errors.
Asked if Villa deserved a point, Gerrard said: “On our first half performance, no. We worked ever so hard to stay with Arsenal, throwing bodies on the line, doing everything we can to keep the ball out of our goal. We got one moment wrong where we could have got out quicker to Martinelli, that detail of defending is what I’ve spoken about before.
“We got one moment wrong defensively and we were made to pay for it, I think Arsenal deserved to be in font at half-time because our technical level in possession was miles off in the first half. I asked for an improvement in half time in terms of keeping the ball because we were working ever so hard, we looked stubborn and hard to break down.
“We grew as the second half went on, we looked dangerous, we were passing the ball better, we were in better positions, our confidence was growing. Douglas provides a moment of magic and we get the game where we want it, which is in the latter stages level with Arsenal, it’s a good place to be in.
“Then we go and shoot ourselves in the foot, again, getting moments and details of defending wrong in our red zone because we don’t get out to people quick enough, we don’t show them down their weak side. Someone has got acres of space where they shouldn’t have acres of space so we have ourselves to blame.” (BirminghamLive)