Unai Emery bemoans lost opportunity for Aston Villa to make up ground in Premier League title race

Aston Villa squandered a chance to make up ground on Premier League-leading Arsenal on Sunday when they were defeated 1-0 at Villa Park by visiting Everton.

The Villans were handed an opportunity to close the gap on the Gunners to four points after Arsenal's scoreless draw with Nottingham Forest a day earlier, but instead they remain tied with Manchester City — who lost to Man United on Saturday — seven points back of the league leaders.

"We lost a very good opportunity," Villa manager Unai Emery told Sky Sports. "We did a very good season until now, and today we lost. We will get balance because we are third in the league."

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The defeat comes after Villa dominated the Toffees in most statistical categories, including possession and shots on target. However, Emery says he was not surprised by the loss because Everton proved more clinical than his side.

"No," Emery said when asked if the result was surprising. "Because they compete very well. We had our chances, we didn't score and they had less chances, but they scored.

"They compete well and after the goal they defended well. Yes, we can avoid the goal, but we didn't.

"A lot of matches we play like that we win. They competed well, this is Premier League - they're a very good team and they have a very good coach."

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