Arsenal icon Thierry Henry has urged his former side to forget about their defeat to Manchester City and react positively against Aston Villa on Saturday.
The Gunners conceded their spot at the top of the Premier League on Wednesday with a 3-1 loss to title rivals City. Goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland handed Pep Guardiola's men a vital victory in their quest for a fifth league title in six years.
Bukayo Saka had equalised from the penalty spot late in the first half after De Bruyne capitalised on a Takehiro Tomiyasu mistake but Grealish and Haaland netted in the second half to continue the Citizens remarkable record against the Gunners - they have won 13 of the previous 15 meetings.
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Arsenal have a game in hand against Man City - Everton at home on March 1 - and can return to the top of the league with victory over Aston Villa at the weekend. Mikel Arteta's men travel to Villa Park before City face Nottingham Forest later in the day.
Henry has urged his former side to respond to Wednesday's defeat in the best way by defeating Villa, managed by ex-Gunners boss Unai Emery. The West Midlands side are 11th in the Premier League table but have lost their previous two games.
"I thought the cup game was very significant," the Frenchman said on CBS Sports Golazo. "Now they came to your place and they beat you. Can you now show that you can respond?
"Since the beginning of the season, City had to respond to what Arsenal were doing. Can you keep your composure? Go at Villa and try to rectify that straight away at the weekend and show them that you can be with them all the way. Now it's going to be very difficult.
"Stay calm. You lost against a great team today. (Phil) Foden and (Manuel) Akanji come on, do you have the same bench at Arsenal? I'm not too sure. Keep your composure. You lost that one, it doesn't mean that everything now has to go in the bin. You still have a game in hand. Now it's going to be tough."
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