Brian Sørensen says that he wants Aston Villa to be ‘honest as a team’ and to show a ‘togetherness’ and a willingness to ‘work hard’ for each other.

Sørensen was speaking to the media following his side’s 1-1 draw at the Emirates. Aston Villa had taken a shock lead through Chasity Grant before Arsenal struck back with just five minutes to play through Alessia Russo. After the encounter The Halfway Line was present to hear from the Villa head coach.

Brian Sørensen says he is ‘happy with a point’ at Arsenal

Aston Villa are not the first to succeed on a trip to the Emirates this term. Sørensen was asked to explain whether Aston Villa had targeted Arsenal’s left side, after a slew of sides have come to North London looking to do the same,

“Yeah, I think that was the plan” Sørensen said. “Also, our pressure was a bit skewed. Chasity [Grant] tried to keep it a little bit higher so she could get at the end of those, you know, transition moments in between.

“And so yeah, good to see that we got it [the goal] also, I don’t know if you can get it too early in a way, but we got it in the first half so you can stay longer and longer in the game.”

Arsenal perhaps had their best spell of the match just after half time following a couple of substitutions that helped the Gunners find space. Sørensen was asked if his substitutions shortly after were in response to that,

“Yeah” Sørensen admitted. “We dropped into that 5-4-1. In beginning, it was a 442 skewed, but then Noelle would would take the runner if it goes on Ona [Battle].

“So we just went into a straight 5-4-1, and I thought we actually changed the momentum a little bit of the game and slowed them a little bit down. And then, then I felt the game started to open up for us, so that we could play a little bit more.

“But then we lost an action, and then we were too high. And yeah, they score a good goal, but you know, overall, I think it’s yeah, I’m happy with the point. You know, like they also created other opportunities.”

Sørensen says Akane Okuma has been ‘outstanding’

The Halfway Line Player of the Match was Aston Villa goalkeeper Akane Okuma. In total she made seven saves with six of those coming from inside the box. The Halfway Line asked Brian Sørensen to speak on the quality of his first choice goalkeeper,

“Yes, she’s been that [exceptional] to be fair the whole season” Sørensen smiled. “She’s come straight in from Japan, which is not easy, to this to this league, and then the amount of pressure that we’ve been facing against City, Arsenal today, but also Tottenham and Brighton, I think Chelsea for the first game, which is outstanding.

“Like she’s been very solid, takes her choices very well. I think today we could have probably potentially played a little bit more, like at times. But yeah, you know it’s also hard and she’s learning. But no, I’m very, very pleased with her. She’s doing great.”

As for Emily Ramsey, Villa’s substitute goalkeeper was not included in the match day squad despite saving two penalties against Birmingham in mid-week. The Halfway Line asked Sørensen why that was,

“Yes, she got like a little injury on Wednesday game against Birmingham” the Aston Villa head coach clarified. “And then yeah, it was just too soon for her.”

We want to show ‘we are honest as a team’ says Sørensen

Since Brian Sørensen took over the reigns at Villa on an interim basis, the Villains are unbeaten, coming away with a point from their sternest test yet this afternoon. The Halfway Line asked the Danish head coach how happy he is with the start the team have made under his guidance,

“No, yeah, of course, happy” Sørensen said. “I think we spoke about that, like we just want to show that we’re a team that has a togetherness, and we’re working hard for each other and we’re humble, we are honest as a team.

“I think those are the characteristics we want to to show people, and then we’ll build on our play. I think the display against Everton in the first like 70 minutes, that’s how I want my team to play when everything’s clicking.

“Of course, that’s hard to do against a very good side as an Arsenal, but I think I can see things starting to add on, and you know, Ori [Oriane Jean-François] has been very big miss for us. She was in during the first 90, [Lucia] Kendall now she’s also [back] in, you know it’s good players that we’ve been missing.

“Lucy Parker was back today, so it’s starting to brighten up on that side also so yeah, Jill Buildings, I think is very, very close so that’s another.”

And as for what Sørensen feels he’s been able to change during his time in charge?

“I think just clarity” Sørensen simply stated. “Making sure that you understand the game plan and don’t overcomplicate things. Just make it super simple and clear.

“And also, yeah, I think just change the training a little bit. You know, I loved working with Natalia [Arroyo] but I’m different in the way I see stuff and also [how I] coach and work, so that’s just it but it’s hard to like pinpoint what exactly is it.

“Sometimes it’s also about having the right players available and maybe not playing Chelsea, Tottenham right away [and] also Man City. That’s also the reality of it, you know.

“So yeah, little things [are] going our way, and we appreciate that. But as I said, we just want to be super honest as a team, and hopefully we can build on our football abilities, so we can we can dominate at times, but [also have] resilience at the back.”