EPL: Arsenal title hopes dented after 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa

EPL: Arsenal title hopes dented after 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa

Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions suffered a major blow as Emiliano Buendia’s 95th-minute winner sealed a 2-1 victory for Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Leandro Trossard’s sixth goal of the season had appeared to rescue a point for the league leaders after he cancelled out Matty Cash’s first-half opener.

But Buendia punished sloppy defending deep into stoppage time, lifting Unai Emery’s side into second place and ending Arsenal’s 18-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

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The defeat blows the title race wide open. Arsenal are now just three points ahead of Aston Villa, while Manchester City could move within two points of the leaders if they beat Sunderland.

Mikel Arteta’s side, depleted at centre-back with William Saliba, Gabriel and Cristhian Mosquera all sidelined, looked vulnerable throughout. Jurrien Timber was forced to shift into central defence alongside Piero Hincapié, and Arsenal never fully settled.

Villa, meanwhile, delivered another painful reminder of their recent knack for disrupting Arsenal’s title pushes. Emery’s men have now won eight straight games in all competitions and increasingly look like genuine title contenders, despite their manager publicly playing down their chances.

Arsenal’s only previous defeat this season came at Liverpool in August, but this setback arrives at a crucial moment, with questions now rising over whether reinforcements will be needed in the January transfer window to sustain a title challenge.

“We are disappointed about how we lost the game,” Arteta said. “Congratulations to Villa; they are a very good side. I thought we were going to win. The result could have been different, but the reality is it’s not. We were unbeaten in 18 games, and now the table is close.”

“So proud of how we are responding,” Emery said.

“Villa Park is something we must feel always; the supporters push us. We got the last goal because we believed we could win this match.”

The result throws the Premier League title race into fresh intrigue, with Arsenal now under pressure to respond as the season intensifies.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

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