Arsenal vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Gunners suffer shock defeat
Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa: Goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins turned the title race on its head as Unai Emery claimed a Premier League double over his former team
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Arsenal blew the chance to return to the top of the Premier League table as Aston Villa bolstered their Champions League hopes by claiming a stunning 2-0 win at the Emirates - a result that leaves the title race in the hands of the defending champions Manchester City with six games to go.
On a dramatic day in the Premier League that also saw Liverpool slip up at home to Crystal Palace, with Jurgen Klopp’s side beaten 1-0 at Anfield, Mikel Arteta’s challengers could not take advantage as they too fell to a damaging defeat in the title race.
The Gunners were seven wins from their first title in 20 years, but City are now two points clear at the top after Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins struck second-half goals and Unai Emery returned to the Emirates to earn a league double against his former team.
Arsenal started well and had the majority of the early chances but it was the visitors who almost took the lead as Ollie Watkins struck both posts following an effort from Gabriel - although Emery’s side then needed goalkeeper Emi Martinez to make a stunning save from point-blank range to deny Leandro Trossard 37 seconds later.
Villa took charge after half time, and struck the frame of the goal again when Youri Tielmans hit both the bar and the post with a bending shot that almost found the top corner. Bailey came off the bench to arrive at the back post and steer Villa in front, before Watkins doubled Villa’s lead with a chipped finish just two minutes later.
FULL TIME: Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa
So much for an unprecedented three-way title race. It was instead all so familiar at Arsenal as Mikel Arteta’s side followed Liverpool in losing at home to perhaps end this run-in just as it was properly beginning.
This may be the weekend that everyone looks back on as when Manchester City won the 2023-24 title. There was daylight between the champions and the challengers for the first time, although not as wide as that in the Arsenal defence as they chased the game against a brilliantly astute Aston Villa.
Unai Emery once more did a number on his old club, as this 2-0 win also served to put his side in command of a Champions League place. It was a brilliantly tactical performance, to go with a superb first full season no matter what happens.
At Arsenal, in what is their second title challenge under Arteta, the great frustration was how similar the end of this game looked to the defeat to Brighton last season. The home side were attempting to build attacks in a ponderous and indecisive manner, only for Emery’s team to just cut through them.
Full-time report by Miguel Delaney at the Emirates
Arsenal stumble as soon as pressure hits in Premier League title race
Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa: Liverpool’s shock defeat at Anfield left Mikel Arteta’s side seven wins from glory - but Unai Emery had other ideas and it is Manchester City who are once again in control
Arteta on Arsenal defeat: ‘It’s how react’
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports, on his side’s chances in the title race: “We can’t control [Manchester City]. What we can control is that when we have the run we had when you win, win, win, win, it’s easy. The moment is now. After this blow, it’s how we react.
“We have the best opportunity to react against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The team has to show it. If you want to win, you have to overcome these situations.
“With the games we had, this was going to happen. It is now about how we react. This is in our control.”
Premier League title race: Who has the best fixtures – Man City, Arsenal or Liverpool?
The Premier League is heading for a classic title race, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal set for a three-way battle as the season enters the run-in.
And what a weekend we’ve just had, as both Liverpool and Arsenal slipped up at home to leave champions City leading the way with six games to go. Pep Guardiola’s side are aiming to win a fourth league title in a row – a feat that has never been achieved in the history of English football, and the title is now in their hands.
That’s after Arsenal and Liverpool lost their advantage on dramatic afternoon. Liverpool, who stood eight games away from the title, suffered a shock defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield, before Arsenal, who were chasing a first title in 20 years, were stunned by Aston Villa at the Emirates.
Even as they trailed, City were lurking dangerously, and now they have a favourable run ahead of them after hitting the front.
But it’s not over yet. Both Arsenal and Liverpool have two games to play before City’s next Premier League fixture, so, with six games to go, which team has the best fixtures and who has the hardest run of games to end the season? Here’s where the title could be won and lost...
Premier League title race: Who has the best fixtures in the run-in?
Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all have tricky tests to pass as the Premier League title race hots up, but who has the best run-in?
FULL TIME: Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins, speaking to Sky Sports:
“It’s massive to come away to Arsenal and to play like that just shows how far we’ve come and where we’re going. It was the perfect away performance.
“Any win is a big result but considering the other results, we’re fighting for the Champions League and knew it was going to be tough today.
“A lot of people doubted us, they thought we play good football but that we wouldn’t come here and get a result. We’ve proved a few people wrong.”
FULL TIME: Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa
But what a win this is for Aston Villa - deserved too. They do the double over Arsenal for the third time in the Premier League, as Unai Emery haunts his former side.
Villa go three points clear of Tottenham in the race for fourth.
FULL TIME: Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa
Stunning. The title race has been turned on its head in a single afternoon. Liverpool and Arsenal beaten. Manchester City lead the way by two points.
Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa
90+8 mins: Villa are playing this out to ‘oles’.
Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa
90+5 mins: Diego Carlos is given man of the match. Villa were battered in the first half, but survived. Unai Emery’s side have been brilliant in the second half and they are heading three points clear of Tottenham in the race for fourth.
Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa
90+3 mins: Arsenal are shell-shocked. Villa could get another but Watkins is offside.
The Gunners are going to somehow pick themselves up for Munich on Wednesday.
Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa
90 mins: There are eight minutes of added time to be played.
Arsenal need three goals.
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