VILLA DESERVE DEFEAT TO ARSENAL – GERRARD

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard was very frank in his assessment of the Premier League clash between his team and Arsenal as he said that the Gunners completely deserved their win. Speaking at the end of the league encounter which took place at Villa Park last week Saturday, Steven Gerrard told reporters that his team didn’t do enough in the game especially in the first half.

With the home defeat to Champions League football chasers Arsenal, Aston Villa have now lost their last two games on the Premier League scene after winning the previous three. Steven Gerrard saw the run of three straight Premier League wins come to an end with the 2-1 defeat at West Ham United who are also after Champions League football just like fellow London club Arsenal.

The clash between Aston Villa and Arsenal was one of just four Premier League games last week after the other games were postponed due to FA Cup commitments on the part of teams such as Liverpool, Everton, Crystal Palace, Southampton, Chelsea and Manchester City.

In the only Premier League game played last week Saturday, Arsenal were able to cement their place in the top-four thanks to the 1-0 away win over Aston Villa. England international Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game. The Gunners limited Villa to just one shot on target and that was the free-kick taken by Brazilian playmaker Philip Coutinho in stoppage time. German goalkeeper Bernd Leno came into the Arsenal goal in the place of the injured Aaron Ramsdale and he was able to push the free-kick from Coutinho away to preserve his clean sheet and the three points for his team.

With ten games left to play, Arsenal are in the driving seat for the much-coveted fourth place ahead of teams such as North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and West Ham United.