Mikel Arteta says his Arsenal players must learn from their last-gasp defeat by Aston Villa and prove they can handle the heat of the title race.

Substitute Emi Buendia struck deep into stoppage time to secure a dramatic 2-1 win for the hosts in a thrilling game at Villa Park on Saturday.

The defeat ended Arsenal’s 18-match unbeaten run and saw Villa close the gap on the leaders at the Premier League summit to three points.

Arteta admitted the loss was “painful”, but backed his squad to use it as fuel going forward.

“Everything that they have put in the last two weeks and the results that we got, the performances, and to lose it that way, emotionally is very touching,” he said.

“You just feel that, yeah, everything that you put [in], it hasn’t been worth it. But it is worth it,

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