Arsenal and Aston Villa staff in second furious bust-up before making peace

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Arsenal and Aston Villa staff in second furious bust-up before making peace
Arsenal and Aston Villa staff in second furious bust-up before making peace

The analysts at the centre of an incredible row have made peace - but only after it kicked off for a second time.

Arsenal analyst Miguel Molina looked to have a bruised cheek after being kicked out of the Villa Park press box after the away team’s celebrations sparked furious scenes. Aston Villa match analyst Victor Manas, who used to work at Arsenal as part of Unai Emery’s backroom staff, was fuming after Molina appeared to blow kisses at his counterpart when the visitors scored in injury time.

Stewards had to intervene to stop the confrontation becoming physical and pulled Molina away. Manas was known as an excitable character at Arsenal but Molina’s exuberance after the injury-time goals appears to have ignited the simmering row.

They saw each other again in the tunnel after the game and another heated row broke out before eventually club officials intervened and told them to make up. It got so angry there were suggestions that a punch was thrown and both managers insisted they will look into the bust-up.

Villa boss Unai Emery said afterwards: “I will have to ask what happened.” Gunners manager Mikel Arteta added: “Anything that happens in the stands, we will look at it and address it.” Aston Villa captain John McGinn, meanwhile, says losing three games in a row is “unacceptable” under the new standards set by Emery.

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McGinn says they have got their sights set on a top-half finish and, even though they played well against Arsenal, they want better results. Emery has made an impact and got the fans onside but they have lost to Leicester, Manchester City and Arsenal, and McGinn says eyes will be on them at Everton next Saturday.

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Arsenal and Aston Villa staff in second furious bust-up before making peaceArsenal scored two late goals at Villa Park to prompt raucous celebrations (Getty Images)

The Scot added: “There’s clear progress under the manager. We’re playing okay but we can’t get away from the fact we’ve lost three in a row. That’s something the manager has stressed. It’s not acceptable for what he wants or for what we want. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing against in this league, they’re all good teams.

“It was sickening to lose like that. Arsenal are deservedly in the top two and will take [Manchester] City all the way [in the title race], I’m sure of that. But we don’t want to be a nearly team. Everyone can see there’s clear progression but it means absolutely nothing if we’re not getting results. We’re happy with some of the changes made and there is clear improvement and I think the manager will say that as well.

“We still have our eye on the top 10. We haven’t done it in a long time, so it’s up to us to do the best we can. We have the ability to do it. People will look at the next few games. It is a favourable run but they’re still tough and hopefully we can come out on the better side of them.”

John Cross

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