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.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
24 mins: Villa are hanging on here... Odegaard is leading a ferocious tempo of passing, and then the captain wins a corner as he makes a challenge in the box! It came after Jesus saw a shot blocked from close range.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
21 mins: Just after that, Villa had a chance of their own on the counter-attack as Arsenal suddenly found themselves open at the back. Watkins was one-on-one with Gabriel, but Trossard did really well to get back and put the pressure on the England striker, as Arsenal were able to clear.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
19 mins: Another chance! Arsenal are turning the screw. Odegaard creates this one - teeing up Saka, whose touch takes him wide. Saka then rattles a shot into Martinez’s near post, but the better option would have been going across goal.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
17 mins: That’s a huge chance! Lovely work from Rice first of all as Arsenal spring forward and shift from left to right. Saka looks up and picks out Jesus at the back post- but the Brazilian heads wide! He was in lots of space after Havertz dragged Carlos away.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
14 mins: A slight concern for Arsenal as Saka is still holding his hip a couple of minutes after colliding with Morgan Rogers - Saka is still up and playing on but while holding that hip area.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
12 mins: Without Jorginho, Arsenal’s shape is quite differerent today on the ball - with Zinchenko alongside Rice and Havertz becoming the one who is making the runs forward beyond the front three. Jesus is playing down the middle.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
11 mins: SAVE! A super move from Arsenal and almost a lovely opening goal. Trossard releases Havertz into the box and the German, making the run from midfield, sees his shot saved by Martinez - fairly comfortably in the end.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
8 mins: Odegaard glides clear and Saka fizzes a ball across the box that is too high for Havertz at the back post. Lots of room for Arsenal to attack into it already.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
6 min: Odegaard and Saka again down the Arsenal right - Villa clear at the front post, but that’s the avenue the Gunners are going after once again. Should be a busy afternoon for Digne.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
3 mins: Saka and Odegaard combine in the box but the winger is forced wide by Digne and Aston Villa can clear. Arsenal are looking to make another quick start in the Premier League - although they fell behind to Bayern Munich in midweek, the Gunners have not trailed in the Premier League since December.
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