Lost Another Game .......

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:

"It was a very bad afternoon because we were not sharp physically and beaten everywhere in the first half.

"I felt overall Villa were the better side. It is frustrating because we played at a kind of pace today that is not our pace. Villa played very well, but we were not sharp or incisive enough.

"We can play very well, but at the top level performances have to be consistent. I always say the first sign of quality is consistency, so this was frustrating after beating Manchester United."

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill:
"We were terrific from start to finish. We came here on the back of two poor league results against Newcastle and Middlesbrough to face a massive test - and we passed it with flying colours.

"We were magnificent and the players were very strong mentally today. I thought we were brilliant because it was a case of the players staying strong, being positive and having a real belief that we could win.

"We never lost belief, never lost confidence and I am absolutely delighted."