Villa 2-1 Arsenal: Trossard goal not enough to halt Emery’s high-flying side

Aston Villa scored a stoppage-time winner to inflict Arsenal’s second league defeat of the season and cut the leaders’ advantage at the top of the Premier League to three points.

Emi Buendia struck in the 95th minute after Arsenal failed to clear a loose ball inside their box, punishing a side that looked increasingly fatigued as the game stretched into its final moments.

The finish triggered wild scenes at Villa Park and continued a remarkable run from Unai Emery’s side, who have now won nine of their last ten league matches to move into second place.

Arsenal had appeared on course for at least a point after Leandro Trossard levelled early in the second half but their late energy faded and Villa took full advantage.

The defeat ended Arsenal’s ten-match unbeaten run in the league and stalled momentum that had placed them in control of the title race heading into December.

It also reopened questions about their capacity to preserve intensity across a condensed fixture schedule, with several players visibly tired during the final stages.

Villa opened the scoring in the first half when Matty Cash drilled a low finish beyond David Raya after Arsenal failed to deal with a cross from the left.

Arsenal equalised shortly after the break when Declan Rice won possession in midfield and Bukayo Saka’s cross was pushed into the path of Trossard, who converted from close range.

The goal energised Arsenal and prompted a spell of pressure that almost produced a second when Martin Odegaard forced Emiliano Martinez into a fingertip save.

Villa responded with chances of their own and their aggression in transition prevented Arsenal from controlling the tempo in a way that might have managed tired legs.

Arsenal introduced substitutes to stabilise midfield but struggled to regain rhythm, and their inability to slow the game encouraged Villa to keep pushing for a winner.

Buendia, who spent last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, entered in the second half and capitalised on the chaos when Arsenal failed to clear a high ball in the final minute.

Arsenal remain top of the table but the gap is slimmer than it was at the start of the weekend and their schedule offers little time to recover before a Champions League trip to Club Brugge.

Arteta will welcome any opportunities to rotate, but the evidence from Villa Park suggested that tired legs and late-game lapses could become a recurring threat to a title bid built on consistency rather than chaos.

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