Aston Villa v Arsenal live: Emi Buendia snatches dramatic last-gasp Villa win in Premier League thriller
Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal: Emi Buendia smashed home deep into injury-time to grab the most dramatic of victories
A last-gasp winner from Emi Buendia provided more drama in the Premier League title race as leaders Arsenal fell to a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa.
Both sides started fairly slowly in a cagey affair at Villa Park but the game burst into life with an early chance for Ollie Watkins, with David Raya producing a great save to keep it level.
Arsenal had their own goal disallowed for offside in the build-up but Villa opened the scoring soon after, Matty Cash arriving at the back post to steer in a superb finish.
The league leaders came out fighting in the second half, with Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres coming on for Eze and Mikel Merino, and the subs soon paid off as the Belgian fired in from Saka’s cross to level it.
This equaliser prompted frantic attacking from both sides as each looked for a winner, with Donyell Malen and Martin Odegaard having chances, before a last-gasp scramble in the Arsenal box allowed Buendia to curl a superb winner past Raya with the last kick of the game.
Relive all the action with our live blog below:
Up next
Arsenal’s next fixture is a Champions League game against Club Brugge in midweek, before the leaders face off against bottom club Wolves in Saturday’s late kick-off. That one kicks off at 8pm on Saturday, 13 December.
Villa’s next match is also a European tie, this one against Basel away, while they face West Ham away on Sunday, 14 December at 2pm.
Premier League fixtures this weekend
This result is the first of the weekend in the Premier League, but there are some intriguing fixtures to come in the next few hours and days:
Saturday, 6 December
Man City vs Sunderland
Everton vs Nottingham Forest
Bournemouth vs Chelsea
Tottenham vs Brentford
Newcastle vs Burnley
Leeds United vs Liverpool - 5.30pm
Sunday, 7 December
Brighton vs West Ham
Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Monday, 8 December
Wolves vs Manchester United - 8pm
Premier League table
Here’s how the table looks then. Arsenal sit three points ahead of second-placed Villa, with Man City having the chance to go two points behind if they beat Sunderland.
1 - Arsenal - 33pts
2 - Aston Villa - 30pts
3 - Man City - 28pts (game in hand)
4 - Chelsea - 24pts (game in hand)
5 - Crystal Palace - 23pts (game in hand)
Gyokeres: 'In this way it’s extra tough'
Viktor Gyokeres is out to speak to TNT, and he explains that it is “tough to lose football matches and in this way it’s extra tough”.
“It’s not a good feeling right now but we have to come back and we have a lot of games to go.
“I think it’s an opportunity every time we play. We’ve done very well so far in the league, so of course it’s not good to lose football matches, but we keep going.
“I mean, we have a game in the Champions League first and then back to the Premier League. It’s a different competition and we just have to keep going, we’re all very good state and we have t take it as it is, and we just have to move forward and look forward,” he added.
Emery: 'We dominated at times'
Unai Emery looks delighted as he speaks on TNT.
“So happy. We finished this week playing like we need to, competing, being demanding of ourselves, but playing with personality,” he explains.
“We dominated at times, got in the box, we were intense and aggressive when we needed it.
“Villa Park is special, the supporters transmitted the energy, we needed to transmit out energy and we did, and how they responded to the players was fantastic.
“Of course we are going to focus game by game, because we know we have to continue like that. Trying to focus on each competition, now we have the Europa League, but of course the Premier League is our first target.
“Of course, how we are doing, competing, how we are sometimes struggling but reacting, responding how we did today, this is the most important [thing],” he added.
Aston Villa thrust themselves into title race by exposing Arsenal flaw
Emi Buendia scored with the last kick of the game as Aston Villa blew the Premier League title race wide open with a dramatic 2-1 victory over leaders Arsenal.
Buendia scored in the fifth minute of time added on to end the Gunners’ 11-game unbeaten run in the league and cut the gap to just three points at the summit.
It was a thoroughly deserved victory for Unai Emery’s side, who have now won nine of their last 10 Premier League games and have firmly entered the title race.
Aston Villa thrust themselves into title race by exposing Arsenal flaw
More from Arteta
Mikel Arteta also spoke to BBC, so here’s what he had to say there:
“Very painful, especially after all the effort in the match. It was an open game, congratulations to Villa they are a really good side.
“We conceded a big chance in the first half with Ollie Watkins' goal. We had some dominance in the second half and I had the feeling we were going to win the game so to lose it in the manner we did is painful. Eighteen games unbeaten, you lose a game and that's what it is, this is football.
“It is what it is. We had a big chance when Declan [Rice] put the ball across for Noni [Madueke], they win a throw-in at the other end and get the goal - that’s football and the quality of this league."
“The level of consistency the boys have shown in this period is incredible so I only have thoughts to think we can do it again.”
Arteta reacts
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had this to say after the loss:
"In the manner the way we lost it was difficult to take,” he says.
“We had moments in the first half and after that we started to control the game and had good situations. We didn't manage the ball well when we regained it. We started well in second half, scored, we were dominant. Then we had periods where we gave the ball away which could've cost the game before the actual goal. It is painful.
"The manner we played, the moment someone beats his own man the space is open, we had our moments but they are a good side. We were close a few times. We need to lift up and go again.
"Every week will be like this. We are 18 games unbeaten and the margins are so small. We have to focus on ourselves and certain standards today - individual levels weren't there in some cases. We have to go again.
On bouncing back, he adds, : "Consistency levels with everything that happened to us has been incredible. I have no arguments to think otherwise."
More from Buendia
Here’s more from matchwinner Emirates Buendia, who spoke to BBC:
"Incredible, the feeling to score that goal and help the team get the win, an important win against the table leaders. Really proud to help the team and score that goal. Very happy,” he says.
"It shows the character of the teams in this league, they did well to try to block the shot with three players on the floor. I saw the space and had the opportunity, really happy.
"We have to keep doing our job and stay focussed on us and prepare every game. The season is long and we need to work hard, game by game. Every match is difficult and we have to keep this mentality until the end,” he added.
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