Aston Villa striker Wesley Moraes says his side cannot continue to lose games in the manner in which they went down 3-2 at Arsenal on Sunday.
The Villans produced a spirited showing at the Emirates, taking the lead through John McGinn’s 20th-minute strike and were handed a significant boost when Ainsley Maitland-Niles received his marching orders for a second yellow card before the break.
Nicolas Pepe then equalised from the penalty spot on 59 minutes but a minute later, Wesley fired the visitors ahead.
Calum Chambers then levelled for the Gunners before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fired in the eventual winner from a free-kick.
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Dean Smith’s side had chances to put the game to bed before and after Aumaeyang’s strike and even had what looked a more than credible penalty shout turned down following a stoppage-time handball by Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
After having time to reflect on the game, summer arrival Wesley’s ire has not cooled, insisting that his team cannot afford many more similar slip-ups in their bid for survival.
The Brazilian told the club’s website: “We cannot lose like this. Arsenal had 10 men and we sat back and conceded two simple goals.”
Sunday’s game was a perfect example of the Villans’ season since returning to the Premier League after three years away, in that they played well for long periods but were made to count the cost of individual errors, both in attack and defence.
Even so, recent performances have been encouraging and Wesley and his team-mates appear to be gelling after the club’s wholesale business in the summer.
Next up is Wednesday’s EFL Cup trip to Brighton but with matches against Burnley and Norwich to come before the international break, the 22-year-old is confident his side are heading in the right direction.
He added: “I think the results are coming. We showed good signs today for 60 minutes, but then conceded the two goals.”
