Arsenal missed a chance to return to the top of the Premier League standings as Aston Villa boosted their Champions League aspirations with a surprise 2-0 win at the Emirates. Thereby leaving the title race in the hands of defending champions Manchester City with six games remaining.
Unfortunately, on a dramatic day like Sunday in the Premier League, Liverpool also slipped up at home to Crystal Palace. With Jurgen Klopp’s team losing 1-0 at Anfield, Mikel Arteta’s opposition was unable to take advantage and suffered a costly defeat in the title fight.
The defeat was a double pain done by Unai Emery’s Aston Villa who denied Arsenal three points at the Villa Park late last year.
The Gunners were seven wins away from their first title in 20 years, but City now lead by two points as Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins scored in the second half, and Unai Emery returned to the Emirates to complete a league double against his former team.
Arsenal started well and had the majority of the early chances, but it was the visitors who nearly took the lead when Ollie Watkins struck both posts after Gabriel’s effort. Although Emery’s side then needed Emi Martinez to make a stunning save from point blank range to deny Leandro Trossard 37 seconds later,.
Villa took charge after halftime 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 put Villa in front, before Watkins doubled Villa’s lead with a chipped finish just two minutes later.
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