Boss Dean Smith insists Aston Villa's recent slip should not overshadow their progress this season.
Villa have suffered successive defeats after winning their opening four Premier League games.
They lost 4-3 to Southampton on Sunday, after being 4-0 down, having also lost 3-0 to Leeds.
Villa have more points now - 12 in six games - than they did after 12 matches last season and, ahead of Sunday's trip to Arsenal, Smith believes they remain in a good place.
'We still feel that we've had a good start (even if) the last two results have been disappointing,' he said.