ALEX McLeish branded Aston Villa’s FA Cup capitulation at Arsenal a “missed opportunity” as their long wait for glory in the competition rumbled into a 56th year.

Villa wasted a 2-0 half-time lead at the Emirates Stadium as Arsene Wenger’s Gunners recovered to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory in yesterday’s compelling fourth-round tie.

The depressing defeat dashed any lingering hopes the claret and blues’ travelling 5,200 fans had of their team finally lifting the FA Cup for the first time since 1957.

While the Gunners set up a fifth-round trip to Middlesbrough or Sunderland, Villa must now focus on their Premier League form, starting with Wednesday’s home match against QPR

“It was a missed opportunity, definitely,” said McLeish.

“We thank the fans for their phenomenal support from start to finish. They will be gutted at seeing the lead slip away.

“It was a great FA Cup game. I am very disappointed not to see it out, but Arsenal have a great cup record in this competition.”

McLeish insists he warned his players at half-time that the tie was not won even though they went in at the break leading through Richard Dunne and Darren Bent’s goals.

But the boss accepts Arsenal’s emphatic comeback, with three goals in seven minutes early in the second half, forced his side to “capitulate”.

“It’s never over, is it?” he said. “I told them at half-time. We know there’s 45 minutes to go.

“I congratulated them on the first half, but said I want to be congratulating you at full-time.

“I thought they were international class in the first half.