Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes suffered a huge blow as Aston Villa scored twice in the closing stages to secure a dramatic 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s side could have climbed back to the top of the table with a win, but they ceded the initiative to Manchester City after conceding two goals in the final six minutes. Leon Bailey gave the visitors the lead and Ollie Watkins doubled their lead as Villa boss Unai Emery secured his first win of the season The club that fired him in 2019 got its second sweet victory of the season. Arsenal’s first defeat in 12 league games leaves them in second place, two points behind Manchester City, while third-placed Liverpool trail Arsenal on goal difference. With just six games remaining, champions Manchester City are on the verge of an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.

Manchester City’s win over Luton Town on Saturday knocked Arsenal out of first place.

But the Gunners’ spirits should have been high after Liverpool’s 0-1 defeat at Crystal Palace half an hour before kick-off in north London.

Instead, Arsenal produced a dismal performance that could prove fatal to their bid for a first English title in 20 years.

It’s been a frustrating week for the Gunners, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday and set up a trip to Germany for the second leg on Wednesday.

After blowing an eight-point lead in the title race last season, Arsenal are in danger of squandering an advantage again.

Tottenham Hotspur’s win over Newcastle on Saturday saw Villa move up to fourth without a kick, trailing Unai Emery’s side on goal difference.

Villa’s second win in six league games moved them three points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who have a game in hand to qualify for the Champions League through a top-four finish.

Arsenal started brightly, with Kai Havertz’s low shot blocked by Emiliano Martinez before Gabriel Jesus headed into the side netting from Bukayo Saka’s cross. .

Saka accelerated to meet Martin Odegaard’s pinpoint pass and took aim from inside the box, but was unable to test Martinez from an acute angle.

Watkins should have given stubborn Villa the lead when he was allowed unimpeded access into the Arsenal penalty area and fired a low shot that ricocheted off the post and along the goal line to safety.

Seconds later, Leandro Trossard received a cross from Jesus and fired a shot from close range that looked destined to find the back of the net, but the Argentinian goalkeeper stretched out his foot to block it away, a brilliant reflex move from Martinez The save put Arsenal back.

As Arsenal’s pressure mounted, Saka’s curling strike from 12 yards narrowly missed the far post.

But well-organized Villa remained resolute and Youri Tielemans nearly took the lead at half-time.

After dispossessing the careless Zinchenko 20 yards from goal, Tielemans unleashed a fierce shot that hit the crossbar and bounced off the post before firing to safety.

Martinez parried Jesus’ shot from the edge of the area but Arsenal struggled to unlock a Villa defense well organized by Diego Carlos.

Fans at the Emirates Stadium grew increasingly frustrated as Villa pushed Arsenal back in the closing stages.

Their fears were confirmed in the 84th minute when Emery’s side took the lead.

Lucas Digne’s low cross eluded Arsenal defenders William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, leaving Pele with the simple task of firing into an empty net from close range.

Watkins delivered the coup de grace 2 minutes and 26 seconds later, stealing the ball from Emile Smith-Rowe and firing a delicate shot past David Raya, his 10th in his last 11 league games. goals.

Emery celebrated jubilantly on the touchline while Arteta stood expressionless as Arsenal faced a catastrophic defeat.

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