Arsenal vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Gunners suffer shock defeat
Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa: Goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins turned the title race on its head as Unai Emery claimed a Premier League double over his former team
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal blew the chance to return to the top of the Premier League table as Aston Villa bolstered their Champions League hopes by claiming a stunning 2-0 win at the Emirates - a result that leaves the title race in the hands of the defending champions Manchester City with six games to go.
On a dramatic day in the Premier League that also saw Liverpool slip up at home to Crystal Palace, with Jurgen Klopp’s side beaten 1-0 at Anfield, Mikel Arteta’s challengers could not take advantage as they too fell to a damaging defeat in the title race.
The Gunners were seven wins from their first title in 20 years, but City are now two points clear at the top after Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins struck second-half goals and Unai Emery returned to the Emirates to earn a league double against his former team.
Arsenal started well and had the majority of the early chances but it was the visitors who almost took the lead as Ollie Watkins struck both posts following an effort from Gabriel - although Emery’s side then needed goalkeeper Emi Martinez to make a stunning save from point-blank range to deny Leandro Trossard 37 seconds later.
Villa took charge after half time, 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 steer Villa in front, before Watkins doubled Villa’s lead with a chipped finish just two minutes later.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa confirmed line-ups!
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Jesus, Trossard
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Zaniolo, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers; Diaby, Watkins
Arsenal vs Aston Villa team news and line-ups
We’re 10 minutes or so away from getting today’s line-ups from the Emirates.
How many changes will both managers make ahead of the second legs of their European ties in midweek? Arsenal go to Bayern Munich on Wednesday while Aston Villa go to Lille on Thursday.
Mikel Arteta on improved touchline behaviour
Mikel Arteta wasn’t on the touchline when Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa earlier this season - because the Gunners boss was serving a one-match suspension for his behaviour on the touchline.
Arteta received three yellow cards by the turn of December - triggering a one-game ban - but has only picked up one since in the Premier League.
“It was an experience. I deserved it. I had to go upstairs because I got the yellow cards. I experienced it. I didn’t like it so hopefully it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
“The rule came up and it was very aggressive. Every time we were talking it was like ‘oh you’re going to get a yellow card’. I think now it’s a bit smoother as well. There’s a bit more understanding in both ways of what we expect from each other, that’s it.”
Why this unprecedented Premier League title race is needed more than ever
Mikel Arteta, on this occasion at least, wasn’t going to play any mind games. When asked after Arsenal’s win over Luton Town whether he would be watching the matches of Manchester City and Liverpool, he nodded happily. There was no sense of just concentrating on his own team. Arteta said he simply enjoyed watching good football, but his interest was obviously far more invested than that.
As the gatecrasher to English football’s main title rivalry, Arsenal have the most to learn. Their very presence at the top of the table, however, also gives both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola something to learn. Neither managerial great has ever been involved in a three-team title race, across 38 combined seasons.
Both have admitted to feeling a new excitement about it, as well as a different tension. There’s a crackle, that sense of event in almost every match. You can feel that gripping tension before each game, and it’s now in three dressing rooms. As evenings stretch out and nerves tighten, there’s nothing like it.
A three-way race between Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City and a classic title run-in comes as the Premier League faces a crisis off the pitch, writes Miguel Delaney
Why this unprecedented Premier League title race is needed more than ever
A three-way race between Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City and a classic title run-in comes as the Premier League faces a crisis off the pitch, writes Miguel Delaney
Crystal Palace lead at Liverpool!
Wow - a twist in the title race? Crystal Palace have made a brilliant start at Anfield and Eberechi Eze has fired the Eagels ahead in front of the Kop, as Liverpool once again concede the opening goal.
Premier League title race: Who has the best fixtures – Liverpool, Man City or Arsenal?
We’re underway at Anfield! Can Liverpool return to the top of the Premier League table and put the pressure on Arsenal? Manchester City did what was required yesterday - and of the three teams in the title race, it is perhaps the Gunners who have the hardest run of fixtures...
You can check them all out, here
Mikel Arteta praises ‘unbelievable’ Unai Emery ahead of Arsenal return
Mikel Arteta praised Unai Emery as the former Gunners boss prepares to take his Champions League chasing Aston Villa side back to the Emirates.
"Unai's had such a big impact at the club in terms of performances and consistency. It is unbelievable what he is doing in European competition and I'm impressed,” he said.
"He's unbelievable and he's done it in so many different countries and he's been incredibly successful.
"He's close to my home town and I have huge admiration for him and I wish him the best after Sunday. What he's doing is really impressive."
Unai Emery on ‘different’ Arsenal challenge
Aston Villa won the reverse fixture 1-0 earlier this season, as Unai Emery’s side defeated the Gunners and Manchester City in the space of four days at Villa Park.
Emery - though - believes his team’s visit to the Emirates will be a very different challenge.
“It is a different context, different circumstances and not really something other than respecting them,” he said.
“It’s different, the game we played at home in December to the match we are going to play on Sunday.
“There are a lot of the same players fighting but different because we are playing in a different context, they are fighting for the Premier League and we are fighting them trying to keep our fifth position and fighting with Tottenham.”
Arteta ‘super excited’ as Arsenal enter crucial run
Here we go again. How can Arsenal respond to the challenge of playing after Manchester City and Liverpool this weekend?
Mikel Arteta has urged his side to give even more as his side look to lift their first league title since 2004.
“We can be in the semi-finals of the Champions League and top of the Premier League so every game is going to define what our future looks like,” he said.
"They are super excited about what we are doing, the way the team is performing, winning matches, they want more.
"We know the task and challenge ahead of us and how good we have to be to win but we will try.”
Arsenal vs Aston Villa betting tips: Premier League odds, predictions and free bets
With both of their Premier League title rivals playing ahead of them this weekend, Arsenal could drop from first place into third before kick-off against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon (4.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event).
The Gunners moved to the Premier League summit following their 3-0 win over Brighton last week, edging ahead of Liverpool on goal difference following the Reds’ draw against Manchester United.
Manchester City are lurking just one point behind and will have first crack at piling the pressure on their rivals in their clash against Luton on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s men played out a 2-2 draw in the week in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash with Bayern Munich. Mistakes cost the Gunners as Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane fired Bayern ahead after Bukayo Saka’s opener before Leandro Trossard levelled the tie.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa betting tips: Premier League odds, predictions and free bets
Arsenal return to Premier League action against Aston Villa in a bid to maintain their standing at the top of the table
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