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Mikel Arteta discussed the significance of Arsenal bouncing back against Aston Villa on the road. ·'We brought a lot of leadership into the team' The Gunners still had memories of the stoppage time Emiliano Buendia dagger that downed them to a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park eight and a half months ago. Arteta knew that result could be used as fuel, and they delivered a third successive shutout after clashes with Manchester City and Coventry City. "I spoke to the players about [the loss in December.] That image when the players were on the floor totally gutted. It was a really difficult one to take and we used that to bring energy, to bring more conviction and belief to understand the difficulty of the challenge that we had ahead, especially against a team that was so successful last year and then they lost a few days ago in a really big way. "You expect a reaction and this stadium is a really difficult one, one for the big matches and they make those moments count. Today when we had to suffer, we did suffer and when we had to be really dominant, we were. So, I'm really pleased. "It was very different, and that shows a lot of maturity; that shows as well the tools that we have in the players to change momentum and to understand what the game needed. We brought a lot of leadership into the team. People who can hold the ball and really dominate in spells through the ball and in duels and I think they've done it." ·'Ebs comes in, he makes a difference' Eberechi Eze will remember that defeat well, having been hooked for Leandro Trossard as a left winger at half time. He then watched from the sidelines for over two months, and Arsenal have slowly but surely seen better from the attacker since. He replaced Christos Tzolis in this fixture, finding the right rhythm to release Riccardo Calafiori for the assist that teed up Bukayo Saka. Squad depth and defensive discipline got the Gunners over the line last season to finish top of the table, and both qualities will be a big part of whatever good will comes this campaign for the club. ·A squad victory at a bogey ground "I think it was a squad victory and everybody that was involved in the game in any capacity made a difference for us. That's a big message for all of us because with the depth that we have and with the quality that we have, if you really make that count, that's going to be a massive boost for us. "Ebs comes in, he makes a difference to win the game. Ezri Konsa makes a debut in really difficult circumstances; it's not easy emotionally to come here and play. But he looks so composed, so calm, so in control. For all those reasons, I think that's the reason why we won the game. "We knew that [Eze] could create an action. He created three actions that he put people almost looking at the goalkeeper one-against-one, but as well I have to trust him. "When they make the rotation, especially on the right-hand side, and the Matty Cash goal last year he lost him, we conceded the goal - and this year, I think he learned a lesson because every time something was happening, he was at it, and I think he helped the team in a great way. "In the Premier League away from home, when you come to these quality squads, these quality coaches and they know how to make life really tough for you, you have to be at it. Consistently throughout the game, and individually, we did that really well."