Aston Villa lost 1-4 to Arsenal in this round of the Premier League. After the game, Villa manager Unai Emery was interviewed by Camel Live, and the Spaniard also talked about topics and views related to the match.
On First-Half Performance and Pre-Match Goals
Unai Emery told Sky Sports after the game: "We were in excellent competitive form in the first half, and I think our performance was even better than when we played against Chelsea. This morning we were discussing whether we could maintain 90 minutes of stability and continue the momentum more sustainably than we did against Chelsea. We achieved that in the first half today, but we lacked goals. However, we were satisfied with our style of play—calm and confident."
On Second-Half Tactical Issues and Situation Changes
"In the second half, we tried to maintain the same system, but there were problems with the midfield personnel configuration—we couldn't field a midfield combination like Onana, Kamara or Barkley at the same time. After conceding the first goal, the solidity of our system declined, and the momentum weakened. The second goal made the situation even more difficult."
On Adjustments After Defeat and Gaining Experience
"But even when we were 0-4 down, we were still creating chances. The primary goal of this game was to compete for three points. When we realized that we couldn't achieve that, we turned to accumulating experience from it and gave more young players the opportunity to play. This is about the continuous construction of the team, so drawing experience from defeat is equally valuable."
Responding to the Controversy Over Arsenal's First Goal Not Being Ruled a Foul
Regarding Arsenal's first goal not being ruled a foul, Emery responded: "The way they scored may have been a foul, but such decisions are harder to make in England because referees often allow a certain amount of physical contact with the goalkeeper. This is indeed frustrating, but we have to accept it—after all, the rules are equal for both sides."
"Well, this is the refereeing standard here. In England, goalkeepers face greater challenges when defending corners, and referees have such decision-making power. We have to accept it."
Explaining Why He Didn't Shake Hands with Arteta After the Final Whistle
When talking about not shaking hands with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after the final whistle, he explained: "I was waiting for him, but he was talking to his coaching staff. My habit is always to find the opposing manager to shake hands first, then return to our own dugout or locker room. If the other party doesn't follow the same convention, I can't wait forever. I don't know the specific reason."
Post-Match Mentality and Congratulations to Arsenal
"Even though we lost today, I still maintain a positive attitude. Congratulations to Arsenal."
