Arteta confirms arsenal were on a revenge mission against Aston Villa

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has suggested his team had revenge on their minds ahead of their Premier League triumph over Aston Villa. 

The Gunners beat Unai Emery's side 2-0 to make it two wins in two and keep pace with Premier League champions Manchester City, who romped Ipswich earlier in the day.

Arteta praised his team's performance after the game and provided some insight into their mindset ahead of the clash. 

Arsenal's performance in both legs against Aston Villa contributed to their failure to lift the Premier League last season. 

They were beaten home and away by the Villans, and according to Arteta, they had those results in the back of their minds ahead of today's match.

"It feels like it because there was a history in those two games last year,” Arteta said. “It was in our toughness and we had to show it against a really difficult team and we found a way to win the game.

"We generated a lot of situations and a lot of dominance, but we didn't translate that into the score. To be a great team—a total team—you need everyone to contribute. What the subs did to today, especially Leo [Trossard], was unbelievable."

Meanwhile, Arsenal still want to strengthen their squad this season, despite two wins in two, as Mikel Arteta suggested that they could make a surprise signing. Pulse Sports reported that the surprise signing could be Nico Williams.