Zat Knight: Why I've never wanted to leave Aston Villa

Dec 27 2008 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

“It is a shame they scored with two of them and hit the post with the third.”

Knight’s late goal was stunning in its execution. “The manager said to me after the game: “That was a great strike!” – and it was nice to get the goal but the whole team worked for it,” he said. “I don’t want to take all the glory.

“To come back from 2-0 down against Arsenal just shows our fighting spirit.

“It has been a long road this season. It was great to keep our run alive and to get a goal like that against Arsenal feels tremendous.

“It was in front of the Holte End too – I will never forget it.

“I scored on my debut against Chelsea last year. We won that game so maybe that was a bit more special, but to come back from 2-0 down feels like a win – especially against Arsenal.

“We hit the post twice and Curtis Davies hit the crossbar, so that was frustrating. We had all the play and no joy from it.”

The point kept a three-point gap on Arsenal in the race for fourth place.

“For us to stay up there we have to keep getting points off the big four – and that’s what we have done,’’ added Knight.

“Now we have to go to Hull City on Tuesday and keep our fighting spirit alive.

“It will be a tough fight up there particularly after their 5-1 defeat at Manchester City, but we need to make sure we get three points.

“That would make it a very good Christmas and New Year.

“There will be pressure with us being last to play but there is pressure every game.”

Knight was keen to play down the excellence of the strike.

“I just had a swing at it – luckily enough for myself it went in. I have never caught one that cleanly before!”