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

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

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

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

‘We have the best opportunity to react against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The team must 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 have no other options. Now is a big test for us.

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

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

‘We were confident of our own moments and we did it. But we needed a high commitment.’

Emery played down the personal significance of the win because of his links 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’s the only thought I had before the game.

– It was hard because Arsenal are having an incredible season. I am very proud of our work and the focus of the players, as they make demands on themselves.’

Regarding his side’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 tied. It is the same three points that we will be playing for next Saturday. If we are not consistent, we can lose. That’s the level we want to be at.’