Mikel Arteta demands his Arsenal players to respond ‘with character and leadership’ after shock 2-0 loss to Aston Villa

Mikel Arteta has ordered his shocked Arsenal side to respond ‘with character and leadership’ after Sunday’s damaging loss to Aston Villa.

Unai Emery recorded a euphoric win against his former club to dent their title hopes and end a run of 11 Premier League matches without defeat.

Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich on Wednesday for a place in the Champions League semi-finals with the tie finely poised at 2-2 after the first-leg before a trip to Wolves on Saturday where they hope to put their title chase back on track.

‘We have the best opportunity to react against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The team has to show it. If you want to win, you have to overcome these situations,’ said Arteta, who said captain Martin Odegaard was substituted with a ‘leg’ injury.

‘With the games we had, this was going to happen. It is now about how we react. This is in our control.

The Gunners’ title hopes took a huge hit on Sunday after losing to Aston Villa at the Emirates

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‘We knew this moment could come, it’s time to react and believe. We have to stand up, make yourself count with leadership and character – we don’t have any other option. Now is a big test for us.

‘If one result (makes us lose our belief) then we are not strong enough. We (Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City) all have to play every three days, it’s crazy. We just have to prepare, go to Munich with big belief – it’s a beautiful opportunity to go to the Champions League semi-finals so it couldn’t come at a better moment.’

On his side’s victory, Emery said: ‘We are very happy, I think they were focussed. We were analysing our process as a team and we prepared this match as a very difficult match but to try to get three points.

‘We were convinced on our own moments and we did it. But we needed high commitment.’

Emery downplayed the personal importance of the victory given his ties to Arsenal, adding: ‘It’s not for me, it’s for Aston Villa. Now we have 63 points and we are closer to being in the top five. That is the only thought I had before the match.

‘It was tough because Arsenal are having an incredible season. I’m very proud of our work and the focus of the players, being demanding of themselves.’

On his team’s Champions League qualification hopes, the Spaniard concluded: ‘Yes [it feels like a big step]. But today was the same three points we were playing for last weekend against Brentford when we were 2-0 up and drew.‘It’s the same three points we’ll play for next Saturday. If we are not consistent then we can lose. This is the level we want to be at.’