Yahoo News Declan Rice singles out Aston Villa star in Unai Emery's 'technically unreal' squad
Declan Rice admitted that Aston Villa have some 'unbelievable, technically unreal' players after Arsenal suffered a damaging defeat at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, in their bid to clinch their first Premier League title in 20 years. Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins struck in the final ten minutes of the game as the Lions claimed a 2-0 victory which they deserved, especially on the back of their second half display.
For Arsenal, it was an opportunity missed in the sense that title rivals Liverpool had slipped up against Crystal Palace earlier in the day. The combination of results leaves Manchester City as the overwhelming favourites to win their fourth straight league title. Rice, who cost the Gunners £100m when he joined from West Ham United last summer, conceded that Villa hurt Arsenal.
The midfielder knows all about the quality of centre forward Watkins, who he has worked alongside in the England set-up, and admitted that the Londoners should've shut up shop and accepted the draw when they worked out that winning the match was going to be a struggle.
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“It’s tough, really tough to take," Rice said. “Especially with the chances we had in the first half, the spaces there was. We had to take one of them because in the Premier League, teams will come back to bite you and hurt you. That’s what Villa did in the second half.
“We’ve been so dominant in games but Villa have got some unbelievable players, technically unreal and Ollie up front is a constant goal threat. If you can’t win games of football, don’t lose. Look up at the clock with 15 to go and it’s 0-0, if you aren’t going to win then you take a point, especially in these situations. So to lose is a real kick in the teeth.”
