Aston Villa bloodied Arsenal’s nose with a classic counter-attacking performance to hand Manchester City the advantage in the Premier League title chase.
Mikel Arteta’s side laid siege to the Villa goal in the first-half and would have been ahead were it not for Emiliano Martinez. As well as making strong saves from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and more, the World Cup winner made a point-blank stop from Leandro Trossard, who connected perfectly with a cut-back from 10-yards out.
Against the run of play, Ollie Watkins took advantage of a mis-communication in the midfield and proceeded to drive a low effort across David Raya but off the inside of the far post. In the second-half, a completely different Arsenal side appeared to come out the dressing room, as their menace and threat was nowhere to be seen.
Villa grew in confidence and thought they took the lead when Youri Tielemans curled a beauty which flew past Raya and smacked the crossbar and post before rolling away to safety. Arsenal became desperate and left themselves completely open at the other end.
A dangerous cross from Lucas Digne went through the corridor of uncertainty between Raya and his defenders, but found Leon Bailey at the back post. The Jamaican international slotted home with emphatic certainty and ease. Arsenal, now wounded, got back on the ball but made the same mistake.
Watkins latched onto a long ball from Tielemans but, unlike his effort in the first-half, waited for Raya to hit the ground first, before scooping a wonderful finish above the Spaniard to end the match and, potentially, Arsenal’s title challenge – Daily Star Sport considers what Arteta got wrong at the Emirates Stadium.
