Spanish coach Mikel Arteta, head of Arsenal Club, expressed his enthusiasm for facing the in-form Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium, in an anticipated top clash for the lead of the English Premier League, confirming that the match will be a strong test and a special conclusion for the year 2025.

Arteta said: "We have a very difficult match, we know Aston Villa’s level well and what they have been offering this season, but at the same time, it is a beautiful match to prepare for and to play."

He continued: "Aston Villa deserves to be in this position, given their consistency and what Unai Emery has achieved with the team, they prove their quality on the pitch and deserve all the praise."

He added: "We will review the first-leg encounter, I have some ideas and things that need improvement, the loss was harsh in the way it happened, but we will learn from it."

He continued about the impact of the previous loss, saying: "If anger and motivation are used in the right way, they can definitely be a positive factor in the upcoming match."

Regarding the approaching opening of the winter transfer market, Arteta said: "We are closely monitoring the players' conditions and their recovery periods from injuries, as squad depth is important from the front line to the back, and when you look at other teams, they have 24 or 25 players."

He added: "We have suffered more injuries than we expected, some of which are unavoidable, but we want to be better and understand the importance of having the right players available throughout the season."

He continued: "The transfer market exists, and we are Arsenal, so we have to look at what we need and act actively, then see if we can execute that or not, but our duty is always to be ready because anything can happen."

Arteta concluded his statements regarding player departures, saying: "We evaluate each case individually, and I leave this matter more to the management to understand what is happening in the market, and then to the players themselves, with the aim of reaching the best possible situation for everyone."