Unai Emery believes Arsenal was a "test" for Aston Villa to understand where they are in the season and how they can build on that going forward. (More Football News)
Second-half strikes from Leandro Trossard and 𝓡Thomas Partey earned the points for A🀅rsenal in a 2-0 win at Villa Park on Saturday.
However, it could🌌 have been a much different story for Emery's men, as Ollie Watkins missed a glorious chance in either half, while Amadou On🦩ana struck the bar.
While the Spaniard was left frustrated by the result, he was left optimistic by the performance in their 🀅first home game of the season.
"You have to accept Arsenal they are more experienced, more mature. They are strong," Emery told Sky Sports. "Today was a tes🤡t for us to understand who we are.
"We competed, we faced them, we could have won, drawn or lost. I think it's going to give us a lot of informatioꦍn about the team, the squad and players and how we can close this week in the transfer window and finish this month playing Leicester.
"I think the way we played today will be a good way to🃏 understand how we can process our style, our competitive way.
"We created three very good chances, like them, but our chances were more clear. We competed like we could do; I have to be proudဣ of the players. We have to keep building. Not the result but the way we did [play] this is what we want."
Watkins fired a close-range effort wide in 🌠the first half before being denied by a wonderful save by David Raya in the sec𓃲ond when he tried to turn in the rebound of Onana's strike.
The England international is yet to score this season, having failed to manage a single shot in their opener against West Ham, but Emery maintains his confidence in𓃲 the striker to ge🎉t back to the form that saw him net 19 goals last season.
"The most ꦰimportant thing is to create chances, of course, he is not finishing them all, but I am very happy how he progressed from the first match at West Ham," the Spaniard added.
"His progress has been🤪 performing better and creating chances. Ollie Watkin꧙s, chances like that in the future, he will score."
