Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa: Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins score late on to dent Gunners’ title bid

Aston Villa produced an excellent efficiency to stun Arsenal at Emirates Stadium and go away Manchester Metropolis in pole place within the Premier League title race.

Arsenal have been lucky to stay on stage phrases for therefore lengthy towards the spectacular guests, who secured a deserved win to maneuver three factors forward of Tottenham in fourth having performed a recreation extra.

The one shock was that it took Villa till six minutes from the tip of regular time to open the scoring – Ollie Watkins and Youri Tielemans hit the woodwork in every half earlier than Leon Bailey lastly broke the impasse with a low end on the far put up.

Arsenal have been saved out within the first half when Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a surprising save from Leandro Trossard, however the guests wrapped up the win when Watkins raced clear within the 87th minute to loft a composed end over David Raya.

It accomplished an ideal weekend for reigning champions Metropolis, with Pep Guardiola’s facet now two factors away from Arsenal who’re forward of third-placed Liverpool on objective distinction.

Gunners fluff their traces

Arsenal have been offered with the proper alternative to strengthen their title probabilities after fellow contenders Liverpool misplaced 1-0 to Palace at Anfield in Sunday’s earlier kick-off.

As a substitute, with a heavy weight of expectation, Arsenal produced one among their worst performances of the season and may don’t have any complaints concerning the final result.

The essential second of a good, tense first half got here when former Arsenal keeper Martinez by some means saved out Trossard’s close-range shot simply earlier than the break when it appeared sure the Belgian would rating.

After that Villa took cost.

The Arsenal facet who gained so convincingly of their earlier league recreation at Brighton have been by no means in proof, with solely captain Martin Odegaard offering the prompting, though he, like his colleagues, seemed desperately jaded after the break.

Arsenal all the time seemed susceptible to Villa’s tempo on the counter and because the recreation entered its closing levels there was solely going to be one winner – with Emery’s facet urgent ahead and the Gunners hanging on.

This can be a day of bitter disappointment for Arsenal however, like Liverpool, they should recuperate swiftly as a result of they merely can not afford any extra errors with defending champions Metropolis now sitting ominously on the high.

Prime class Villa get their reward

Villa deserved each second of the celebrations they shared with the travelling followers on the conclusion of this excellent win.

Emery’s facet carved out an enormous outcome within the context of the chase for the highest 4, and no-one can begrudge them their triumph.

Certainly, the victory margin ought to have been even wider.

The guests troubled Arsenal’s again 4 all through with Watkins rolling a end towards the put up within the first half, earlier than Tielemans’ superb curling effort by some means stayed out within the second half – remarkably hitting the bar then the put up.

Former Arsenal supervisor Emery set his facet up completely and was a whirlwind of exercise in his technical space as he directed operations.

It was all superbly orchestrated. This complete efficiency was an illustration of Emery’s experience in galvanising Villa.

It might have taken a surprising save from Martinez to maintain them stage within the first half however no-one ought to recommend this was any type of ‘smash and seize’.

This was a hard-earned victory and completely worthy of how Villa performed.

Participant of the match

WatkinsOllie Watkins

Arsenal

1. Squad quantity8Participant identifyØdegaard

2. Squad quantity41Participant identifyRice

3. Squad quantity2Participant identifySaliba

4. Squad quantity7Participant identifySaka

5. Squad quantity29Participant identifyHavertz

6. Squad quantity6Participant identifyGabriel Magalhães

7. Squad quantity4Participant identifyWhite

8. Squad quantity19Participant identifyTrossard

9. Squad quantity22Participant identifyRaya

10. Squad quantity9Participant identifyGabriel Jesus

11. Squad quantity10Participant identifySmith Rowe

12. Squad quantity11Participant identifyGabriel Martinelli

13. Squad quantity18Participant identifyTomiyasu

14. Squad quantity35Participant identifyZinchenko

15. Squad quantity20Participant identifyJorginho

16. Squad quantity14Participant identifyNketiah