Emiliano Buendía scored with the last kick of the game as Aston Villa blew the Premier League title race wide open with a dramatic 2–1 victory over leaders Arsenal. Buendía struck in the fifth minute of added time to end Arsenal’s 11-game unbeaten league run and cut the gap at the summit to just three points. It was a thoroughly deserved win for Unai Emery’s side, who have now claimed nine victories in their past 10 Premier League matches and firmly entered the title conversation.
According toESPN, Villa had looked as though they would be denied after Leandro Trossard’s early second-half finish cancelled out Matty Cash’s first-half fizzer, with Arsenal appearing to hold firm. But Buendía’s late strike sealed it and delivered a potentially damaging blow to a club that “have a nervous disposition when it comes to sticking it out in title races.” Emery, who was replaced at the Emirates by Mikel Arteta, will publicly dismiss his side’s title prospects, but Villa look a match for anyone and will be feared. The hosts put Arsenal under pressure from the outset and could have taken the lead inside 20 minutes but for a brilliant save by goalkeeper David Raya to deny Ollie Watkins.
The ball dropped to John McGinn, who slipped in Watkins. The England forward wriggled past Jurriën Timber and Ben White and looked certain to score until Raya sprang to his left and pulled off a fine stop. Villa fired another warning in the 29th minute when Morgan Rogers’ cross reached the back post, where Cash’s goal-bound shot was superbly blocked by Declan Rice.
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The breakthrough finally came in the 36th minute. Pau Torres’ cross took a nick off Timber and Cash took advantage of Eberechi Eze switching off to lash home. It was no surprise Villa led at the break, and Eze’s punishment for his back-post lapse was a half-time substitution.
Trossard replaced him and nearly equalised in the 50th minute, volleying just wide. Two minutes later, he did find the net as the visitors drew level. Arsenal worked down the right and Emiliano Martínez could only get a hand to Bukayo Saka’s cross, which fell to Trossard at the back post to ram home.
Villa’s sluggish start to the half was punished, but their response was strong. Watkins again tested Raya with a low shot, only for the Spaniard to save.
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