Paul Lambert: Sickness bug killed Aston Villa

Nathan Baker and Darren Bent were both taken ill today, while Ashley Westwood was withdrawn after the warm up and Andreas Weimann was sick at half-time.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan and midfielder Fabian Delph played the full 90 minutes, despite struggling with the problem.

Strikes from Mesut Ozil, a first for the club for Danny Welbeck and Aly Cissokho's own goal settled their Premier League clash as a contest by the break.

Lambert said: "We are probably going to let the lads stay away for a couple of days to try to clear it. The staff as well as they have got it as well."

"We have had so much bad luck this week, even before the game. Nathan Baker pulled out this morning, Darren Bent pulled out this morning.

"Ashley Westwood was sick during the warm up, so was Andreas Weimann at half-time. Brad Guzan and Fabian Delph both had it.

"A lot of the staff are not feeling good so you are not best prepared for that magnitude of the game, but I can't be critical of the start we've made.

"I think Fabian went into the Liverpool game not feeling the best and Guzan had it this week, but the other four lads were really bad.

"I don't feel 100 per cent and I think there's a few of them still in there not feeling that good, so I'll probably shut the training ground for a day or so and see if we can eradicate it.

"Arsenal were clinical. To lose three goals is disappointing, but I can't sit here and say I'm disappointed with the start.

"It was a tough game for us, it's a tough game when everybody is 100 per cent fit, but what happened this morning and during the warm-up and at half-time, the lads were running on empty."