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
Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free
Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
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.
GOAL! Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa (WATKINS 87’)
UNREAL. WHAT IS HAPPENING?!
Arsenal throw everyone forward, to be hit by a stunning suckerpunch.
Watkins is released and holds off Smith Rowe, before just beating Raya with a wonderful chip.
It goes off in the away end, and some of the home fans are already heading home.
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Aston Villa (BAILEY 84’)
OH MY GOODNESS. It had been coming but this is a HUGE shock in the title race, as Leon Bailey comes off the bench to stun the Emirates!
Villa work the ball wonderfully down the left - the cross is missed at the front post but Bailey arrives just in time to steer in the empty net!
Are Liverpool and Arsenal about to lose at home on the same day?
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
81 mins: Konsa looks a little lost after getting the chance to drive forward from right back. Gabriel makes his way across and cuts him out, as Watkins waited for the ball into the middle.
Arsenal have steadied a little and the game is more even now, but Villa are still looking the more likely to find a winner.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
78 mins: Another two Arsenal changes: Jorginho and Emile Smith Rowe are on for Odegaard and Jesus.
Arsenal face Bayern on Wednesday, but the title is on the line here.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
74 mins: Not convincing from Arsenal at all, as they fail to clear the corner again and Pau Torres sees his shot blocked by Havertz from a tight angle.
Arsenal clear at the third attempt but can’t break forward.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
73 mins: Some of the Villa players have put in a real shift today and they have the momentum. Arsenal look shaky defending the inswinging corner, and can only clear for another in front of the Villa end.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
68 mins: There are some worried faces in the Arsenal ends. Villa have been the better team since half time, by a mile.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
65 mins: Here come the Arsenal changes: Trossard is replaced by Martinelli and Ben White makes way for Takehiro Tomiyasu.
There was a concern as Odegaard stayed down after being landed on in the box following a corner, but the captain is back up and going.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
61 mins: OFF THE POST AGAIN!
Oh my goodness how close was this from Youri Tielemans! It’s almost wonderful from the Belgian, after Zinchenko gave the ball away on the corner of the box after a corner was cleared. Tielemans sent an effort bending towards the top corner, only for it to strike the underside of the bar and then off the post!
It’s the second time Villa have hit both posts with one shot!
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
60 mins: Saka’s corner is cleared by Rogers at the front post and Rice’s volley blazes over the bar.
Here comes the Villa change: it’s Diaby for Bailey in a straight swap.
Bailey is dangerous.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies