O'Neill hails magnificent Villa despite loss
Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill paid tribute to his players after a “magnificent” second half in which they ran Arsenal close but could not find an equaliser and lost 2-1.
Despite going ahead through Craig Gardner’s 14th-minute goal, Mathieu Flamini equalised nine minutes later and then Emmanuel Adebayor struck what turned out to be the winner before half-time.
However, O’Neill, whose side had won four consecutive league matches prior to today, could not fault his side.
“We totally dominated the second half and we deserved to get something from the match,” he said.
“They are a fine side but we showed great character in the second half.
“We had the dominance and I don’t think they have been put under that sort of pressure for some time.
“It was a magnificent second half, relentless, and Arsenal were the ones kicking it clear and making changes to accommodate us – it shows you something was happening on our side and I thought we were really unlucky.”
Villa were a different side after the break and that was a result, in some part, of O’Neill’s interval pep talk.
“The players had to have that belief – which sounds crazy when you think we have won the last four games,” he explained.
“When you want to be competing at the top you have to be there every single minute of every single day and the players have to have that belief that they can do it.
“There was a period in the first half when they got the equaliser and when we lost that bit of self-belief.
“But I always felt we were in with a chance of going on to win it and I have the utmost regard for the players because we should have got something from that game.”
With Manchester United playing tomorrow the Gunners extended their advantage at the top of the Barclays Premier League to five points.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said that was one of their aims when they arrived at Villa Park but accepted they had to work harder to achieve it.
“The first half was an amazing, classy display,” he told Setanta Sports.
“In the second half we were resilient and showed a different aspect of our game – commitment. Overall it was a big test for us.
“We were tested at 1-0 down against a team full of confidence and so to come out with three points I think my team deserves credit.”
