**What will Donyell Malen bring to your squad?**

“He’s usually playing as a number seven and sometimes as a number 11 on the left side, while he can also play as a number ten. In the attacking third, he’s always close to getting into the opponent’s box to score goals and get assists. We will need a player like him trying to threaten the opponent in behind.”

**How important is it that you make improvements away from home?**

“We can feel a little bit of confidence after we won at Everton, but the challenge tomorrow is to be competitive. Through being competitive, we can be close to taking a good result.

“Arsenal tomorrow will be very, very difficult. Every match we are facing is very, very difficult – at Everton as well.

“We are preparing for the match - we are very motivated and we’re going to try to play by improving things we did in Everton and improving things we did away in the last matches against top teams in the Premier League. Tomorrow we play one of the candidates and favourites to win the Premier League.”

**How well has Tyrone Mings adapted following his recovery from injury?**

“It’s fantastic how he is progressively helping the team; his attitude, his commitment with the club. He struggled a lot last year at the beginning of the season; he was not feeling 100 per cent to help the team. When the injury came to Pau Torres, it was his moment.

“He is really helping the team, helping us to play with his capacity and show again his skill and potential with us like he did before he was getting injured.

“Now, playing a lot of matches in a row, we have to try to be careful and protect him. Hopefully tomorrow he can feel recovered 100 per cent and playing 90 minutes like he has played in the last matches.

“I’m very happy with how he is with his attitude, his commitment. He’s a leader for other players as well and he’s very important in different directions with the players in the squad, on the field and the message we want to send to the players about how we want to be demanding in our new way here in Aston Villa.”

**What is the latest on the team news?**

"Pau Torres is still out and John McGinn is starting to train on the field, but is not available for tomorrow. Barkley is still out. Diego Carlos, this morning he had a medical report and he is not feeling good. I think he is not going to be there again."

**What are you expecting from Arsenal tomorrow?**

“This is different circumstances (to Villa’s win against Arsenal last season). That moment was a very special circumstance for them and for us because they were very involved in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and we were as well in the Conference League.

“We competed very well in that moment in 90 minutes and we won, but it was very difficult. This year it’s different circumstances. There aren’t many things similar to last year, it’s going to be different and we have to try to play, competing with the idea we have.

“We have to build the team like we are doing and try to get confidence and good feelings. Individual players need to feel confident, and this is the match we have tomorrow.”

**Will Diego Carlos leave the club in this window?**

"I don’t know. He had a medical report this morning and he is not feeling good. He is not going to train and he is not going to be available tomorrow. I know they are, more or less, in conversation about the possibility to leave, but I don’t know."

Unai Emery, pre match.



"We competed well. To get something here is very difficult. To compete like we did is the only way. They were controling and pushing more [earlier on]. We had to defend strongly.

"The second half we reacted well. The mentality we showed is the mentality we want. We needed the goalkeeper, the defenders. We were always trying some transitions. Fantastic job. Now we are in good balance. We are fighting with really strong teams. How we started the second part of the season has been good.

"[We thought] scoring one goal could open the match for us and it did.

"Yes I wanted a change with a fresh player like Duran but after his goal I tried to take my time."

"I don't know. I kicked the ball. I only kicked the ball in the direction of the players. I didn't deserve a yellow card."

"Fantastic. Brilliant how the players reacted after the two goals - it was fantastic. In our mentality, we never give up and today we never give up and we tried to score. Arsenal were pushing and creating some chances, but even with that we have another.

"Arsenal are very powerful at home. This is the level we want to be close to, but we still have work to do as they're very strong. To complete like we did is the only way to get something here."

"He [Lucas Digne] played fantastic. Maatsen played fantastic in the first half. Of course, today Martinelli was difficult for Ian Maatsen and for Lucas Digne, but both did a fantastic job. Never give up. In that moment, in the mind, that was it."

"Now we are going to enjoy Champions League and of course to compete. Of course, building a team changing some small players in the squad and trying to use this transfer window to get stronger for the second part of the season."

Unai Emery post match.



"It is hard to come off the pitch and score. You have got to be in the right place, but yes hopefully we can play up top together."

“We had a bad run before and we didn't win in eight games. But then we win a couple and we are back in it. You can see how close the league is.

"You have got to be on your toes. It is the best I have felt in the past couple of weeks. I am feeling good and want to get to that 20 goals. I am on penalties now and that's the target."

"Seeing it back I'm not sure, it has gone in favour of us. If it was against me I would be a bit disappointed.

"I don't know. From that angle I am not sure, but that's what VAR is there for.

"I think we got the goal, Luca [Lucas Digne] put in an unbelievable ball and Youri Tielemans scored.

"We got a lot of momentum from that and we had a bit of faith whenever we went forward that they were quite open."

"We knew they went man to man. There was chances there to be taken as they're always a little bit open. When I got my goal I felt we had enough time to push on and get a goal, but it was about being brave and making more passes.

"First half we went direct - Gabriel is a strong guy, so it is hard to hold the ball up against him.”

Ollie Watkins.



"We came back really well into the game. The [first] goal gave us freedom and belief. It's not an easy task. They were on top of us for 60 minutes.

"I saw the space and tried to jump into it. Good goal.

"From our point of view [a good result] is always deserved. We take the point and move forward. They had many chances but we defended with our bodies on the line. 2-2 is a good result for us. First half we had a couple of counters, misplaced passes from me which could have put Ollie Watkins in.

"We fought really well to come back into the game.

"Handball is handball when it is a goal. It is what it is.

"Big win. We have had some bad results away from home. We just need that consistency away from home because we're doing well at Villa Park. It gives us a massive boost of confidence for the rest of the season."

Youri Tielemans.



"Merse anything to say? You're a bit quiet."

Ollie Watkins to Arsenal fan boy Paul Merson.



**Unai, your thoughts on the draw?**

"We showed resilience and mentality. How we reacted was fantastic on the field. This is the process we have. We have experiences and competing against the better teams like last year and two years ago. Today was a very good test against Arsenal, a favourite and contender to be with Liverpool to win the Premier League. Also a favourite to get far in the Champions League.

"We did a really fantastic job. We are in a process and this point is very important in how we achieved it. I was thinking maybe we could get another goal to win and this is the mentality I want. The last actions, with VAR and Trossard’s chances, it was a difficult moment for us."

**What was the thinking behind the tactical change involving Maatsen and Digne at half-time?**

"Maatsen is here to grow up with us. I have to manage both players. Ian Maatsen started very well offensively and through him and Cash we wanted to try to get wide and deep in attack. We did that more with Maatsen.

"Defensively, of course, the task was difficult with Trossard and Martinelli. Yellow card for Maatsen. This is the argument I used to change him. With that yellow card, he was in risk. For 45 minutes, Lucas was fantastic and he got an assist."

**Was Watkins due to come off before he scored?**

"There are moments in the game. He did a fantastic job, Watkins. The first half and the second half until he scored his goal. I wanted to change him for Duran because I wanted a fresh player to continue doing the same work Watkins did. When he scored in that moment, I preferred to keep him on because he was excited. We had a possibility to play with both strikers, but that would be difficult in today’s game plan."

**It must be nice to have that competition...**

"It’s no problem, they are professionals. In that moment it makes sense and I wanted to win through Watkins and I wanted to win through Duran. Before the experiences we had, they did it. It is not because I am being upset."

**What did you make of the VAR to disallow Mikel Merino's goal?**

"I always respect VAR. Three weeks ago I didn’t watch the clear penalty [we didn’t get] at Nottingham Forest. I respected VAR. After the match, I watched it and it was as a penalty. The same is today. Respect VAR. I watched it [Merino] and it touched his hand."

**What's the update on Amadou Onana's injury?**

"I don’t know exactly. He was a doubt before the match. We have to test him tomorrow. It’s hamstring but I don’t know. He was not feeling comfortable or 100 per cent to continue."

Unai Emery post match.