Aston Villa hard done by to lose by four goals, says Eric Black

Aston Villa caretaker boss Eric Black felt hard done by as his side lost 4-0 to Arsenal on the final day of the season.

Villa lost 4-0 at the Emirates in their final game of Premier League football before relegation to the Championship, but Black believes they kept the Gunners in check for large periods.

He said: "I thought we contained them for a good 80 minutes. We had a couple of enforced changes before the game, we asked two midfielders to play (in defence) and I thought they behaved admirably, I thought they worked extremely hard.

"Having conceded a goal very early on, you fear the worst but we stuck at it and not only that in the second half there was a little period where I thought we put Arsenal on the back foot.

"The players deserve a lot of credit and it is a 4-0 defeat but you take that on the chin, but I thought it was harsh the 4-0."

Black took over following the departure of Remi Garde in March, and although he was unable to keep Villa in the Premier League, he was pleased with the efforts of his players.

"I've been very pleased with the response of the players," Black said. "Obviously we would have preferred to take more points but I think the players have continued under extremely difficult circumstances and continued to give everything for the club.

When asked what the next step for Villa is ahead of the summer, he added: "There are ongoing talks about a takeover of the club, which I think will be big, and a new manager will need to be appointed.

"He will assess the group and try to get Aston Villa back to the Premier League. They need to get the right person and if that takes a week or two, so be it."