Arsenal’s grasp on the Premier League title slipped away after a devastating 2-0 loss at home to Aston Villa, allowing Manchester City to pull ahead by two points at the top of the table.
Despite dominating much of the goalless first half, Arsenal failed to capitalize on their opportunities and appeared lethargic after halftime, conceding control to a superior Villa side.
The decisive goals arrived late in the game, with Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins finding the net in the 84th and 87th minutes respectively, securing a classic away triumph for Villa.
Watkins came close to scoring earlier in the match, hitting the post in the first half, while Youri Tielemans’ curling effort struck both the crossbar and post early in the second period.
Arsenal’s best chance fell to Leandro Trossard just before halftime, only for former Gunners goalkeeper Emi Martinez to deny him with a stunning save using his right foot.
Although Arsenal displayed flashes of brilliance in the first half, particularly through Martin Odegaard, they were repeatedly thwarted by Villa’s resilient defense.
Villa shifted gears in the second half, dictating the tempo of the game and leaving the home crowd increasingly anxious.
With even a goalless draw proving insufficient for Arsenal, the atmosphere at the Emirates grew tense as the match progressed. However, the outcome would worsen significantly for the Gunners.
