Aston Villa stunned Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium with a stunning performance to put Manchester City in pole position in the race for the Premier League title.
The match started with high hopes for the Gunners after Liverpool suffered a shock defeat at home to Crystal Palace, but Arsenal were hopelessly disappointed and Villa manager Unai Emery secured a win over his old club. I lost a lot because of it.
Arsenal were lucky to maintain an even record for so long against the well-performing visitors, with Arsenal securing a deserved victory and moving three points ahead of fourth-placed Tottenham, who had played more games. Ta.
The only surprise was that it took Villa six minutes after regular time to take the lead. Olly Watkins and Youri Tielemans hit the woodwork in the first half before Leon Bailey finally broke the deadlock with a low finish to the far post.
Arsenal were denied in the first half by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who made a fine save from Leandro Trossard, but in the 87th minute Watkins cleared clear for David Raya to calmly score, giving the visitors victory.
After a perfect weekend for reigning champions City, Josep Guardiola's side are now two points behind Arsenal, who are ahead of third-placed Liverpool on goal difference.
The gunner fluffs the line
Arsenal given a golden opportunity to strengthen their title chances following the win over their competitors Liverpool lost 1-0 to Palace. at Anfield in an early kick-off on Sunday.
Instead, Arsenal had high expectations and produced their worst performance of the season, but the result was nothing to complain about.
The defining moment of a tense first half came when former Arsenal keeper Martinez managed to deny Trossard's shot from close range just before half-time, when the Belgian looked certain to score. Ta.
After that, Villa took charge.
The Arsenal team that won the league game so well in Brighton last time out never showed its form, with only captain Martin Odegaard providing inspiration, but like his colleague, he looked very tired after the break. It seemed like it was over.
Arsenal always looked vulnerable to Villa's pace on the counter, and as the game entered its final stages there was only one winner. It was a situation where Emery's side were pushing forward and the Gunners were holding on.
It will be a bitterly disappointing day for Arsenal, but like Liverpool they need to recover quickly. With City, the defending champions, currently sitting at the top of the table, they cannot afford to make any more mistakes.
Earn rewards on top-class villas
Villa deserved every moment of the celebration they shared with their traveling fans at the end of this fantastic victory.
Emery's team has achieved great results while aiming for a top-four spot, and no one will begrudge them a victory.
In fact, the margin of victory could have been even wider.
The visitors tormented Arsenal's back four from beginning to end, with Watkins scoring a finish that hit the post in the first half, but Tielemans' superb curling shot was somehow saved in the second half, hitting the bar and then hitting the post.
Emery, a former Arsenal manager, set his team up perfectly and created a sensation in the technical area while directing the team.
Everything was beautifully orchestrated. The whole performance was a testament to Emery's expertise in revitalizing the villa.
It may have taken a great save from Martinez to keep the score tied in the first half, but no one would think this was some kind of “smash and grab.”
This was a hard-won victory and one that Villa fully deserved.
player of match
watkinsollie watkins
arsenal
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squad number8player nameOdegaard
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squad number41player namerice
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squad number2player nameSaliba
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squad number7player nameSlope
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squad number6player nameGabriel Magalhães
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squad number29player nameHavertz
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squad numberFourplayer nameWhite
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squad number19player nameTrossard
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squad numbertwenty twoplayer nameRaya
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squad number9player nameGabriel Jesus
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squad numberTenplayer namesmith row
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squad number11player nameGabriel Martinelli
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squad number18player nameTomiyasu
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squad number35player nameZinchenko
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squad number20player nameJorginho
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squad number14player nameNketia
lineup
arsenal
formation 4-3-3
- twenty twoRaya
- FourWhiteBooked in 36 minutesReplacementTomiyasuin 67 minutesminutes
- 2Saliba
- 6GabrielI made a reservation in 45 minutes.
- 35ZinchenkoReplacementNketiain 87 minutesminutes
- 8OdegaardReplacementsmith rowin 79 minutesminutes
- 41rice
- 29HavertzBooked in 63 minutes
- 7Slope
- 9Gabriel JesusReplacementJorginhoin 79 minutesminutes
- 19TrossardReplacementmartinelliin 67 minutesminutes
substitute
- 1Ramsdale
- Fiveparty
- Tensmith row
- 11martinelli
- 14Nketia
- 15Kiwior
- 18Tomiyasu
- 20Jorginho
- twenty oneFabio Vieira
Aston Villa
formation 4-2-3-1
- 1E. Martinez
- FourConcert
- 3Diego Carlos
- 14P. Torres
- 12Digne
- 7McGinn
- 8Tielemans
- 19DiabyReplacementbaileyin 61 minutesminutes
- 27rogersBooked for 14 minutes
- twenty twoZanioloReplacementMorenoin 80 minutesminutes
- 11watkins
substitute
- 2cash
- 15Moreno
- 16chambers
- 17lengret
- twenty fourduran
- twenty fiveolsen
- 29Kessler Hayden
- 31bailey
- 47Irogbunam
- Referee:
- david coote
- Attendance:
- 60,350
live text
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Game over, Arsenal 0, Aston Villa 2.
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End of the second half, Arsenal 0, Aston Villa 2.
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Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in defence.
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Foul by Lucas Digne (Aston Villa).
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Foul on Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
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John McGinn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick inside the defence.
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Foul on Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
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Morgan Rodgers (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right.
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Attempt failed. Declan Rice (Arsenal) took a right-footed shot from outside the box that went high and just wide of the target. Assisted by Gabriel Martinelli.
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Aston Villa offside. Leon Bailey was caught offside.
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Foul by Declan Rice (Arsenal).
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Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in defence.
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Substitution, Arsenal. Eddy Nketiah replaces Oleksandr Zinchenko.
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goal! Arsenal 0, Aston Villa 2. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) fired a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom left corner. Assisted by Youri Tielemans after the fast break.
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Corner, Arsenal. Lucas Digne concedes a goal.
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goal! Arsenal 0, Aston Villa 1. Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) fired a right-footed shot into the center of the goal from a difficult angle on the right. Luca Digne assists a cross from a corner kick.
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Corner of Aston Villa. Bukayo Saka concedes a goal.
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I'm late. They are ready to continue.
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Substitution, Aston Villa. Alex Moreno replaces Nicolo Zaniolo due to injury.
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Substitution, Arsenal. Jorginho replaces Gabriel Jesus.