Morgan Rogers believes Aston Villa can have no arguments about their 4-1 loss to Arsenal as "the better team won" at Emirates Stadium.
Villa had the chance to go level on points with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with a win on Tuesday, but instead saw their title hopes take a hit after a rampant second-half display from their hosts.
Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus all struck for Mikel Arteta's side after the break, with Ollie Watkins' late goal a mere consolation.
It is a stark contrast to when these teams met just three weeks ago, when Villa's goal in second-half stoppage time secured a 2-1 victory.
The loss also brought an end to Villa's eight-game winning streak in the league; it was just the fourth time a Premier League team have seen a winning run of eight or more games ended by a loss of three or more goals.
But Rogers noted that it was always going to be tough against the league leaders, as he urged Villa to quickly put the defeat behind them.
"It got difficult because they are such a good team," Rogers told Sky Sports. "They are where they are in the league for a reason.
"They are relentless, and they just keep going. I thought we were really good in the first half; we were really proud of how we played.
"On another day, we might've created one more clear-cut chance to maybe go in front, but they were really solid and really good. In the second half, they just kept the pressure on, and it's really tough to come to a place like this.
"We knew we would have to ride our luck, but they were just too clinical – sometimes that happens.
"Nothing really changed on either side in the second half, but once you get that opening goal, then the momentum comes with it. When you're 1-0 up, then you get more confidence and play more freely; that's definitely what happened for them.
"When the goals started coming thick and fast, you knew it was done. The better team won, so there can be no arguments.
"It's nothing bad to lose 4-1 to the best team in the league at the moment. We just have to dust ourselves down and be proud of the winning run we've been on."
Villa faced 22 Arsenal shots worth 3.2 expected goals (xG) but underperformed their own xG of 2.7 at the other end.
They had just 11 attempts, with only three of those on target, though they also hit the woodwork twice as they struggled in front of goal.
Despite the defeat, Unai Emery remained optimistic and is already focused on what lessons his team can take from the result going forward.
"So, so happy with the players and of course we must analyse this match, but overall we are ending matchday 19 with the points we have and the week we did," Emery told BBC Match of the Day.
"We did very good first half, different to the match against Chelsea, and of course, we were competing well and even getting our momentum and creating chances.
"We did not concede a lot, no corners in the first half for them. But the second half, the first goal changed everything, and after it, they pushed it.
"Now with the players, my analysis is after the match, how we did here over 90 minutes, but overall, the most important is try to understand overall how we are."