Arsenal failed to reclaim top spot in the Premier League after losing 2-0 to Aston Villa on Sunday evening.
Premier League
Result: Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa
Date: 14 April 2024
Venue: Emirates Stadium
The Gunners made three changes to the side that drew with Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg, as Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard and Oleksandr Zinchenko were recalled.
The hosts looked to build from the back in the early stages and were dangerous with Bukayo Saka surging through on goal a couple of times but they did not have the finishing touches.
Villa were patiently waiting for their chances on counter-attacks and with five minutes left of the first stanza, Ollie Watkins came very close to breaking the deadlock with a diagonal shot that came off the inside part of the post and somehow ricocheted wide.
Mikel Arteta's charges also had a glorious chance just after that as Trossard only had goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to beat from a swift attack but he was denied by the Argentine.
Unai Emery's men started the second stanza strongly and after shading the possession stakes, around the hour-mark, Youri Tielemans was unfortunate not to break the deadlock with a curling shot that ricocheted off the post and the crossbar at the same time.
With Arsenal struggling to create spark upfront, Arteta eventually made changes in the closing stages, as Martin Odegaard made way for Emile Smith Rowe for fresh legs and Jorginho came on for Jesus in a tactical switch.
However, the Gunners collapsed, as Leon Bailey broke the deadlock for Villa six minutes before time with a finish at the back post after a teasing cross by Lucas Digne.
Arsenal sent numbers forward in the dying minutes and were punished on a counter-attack, as Watkins sealed the game for Villa with the second goal after a lifted a shot over goalkeeper David Raya in a one-on-one after a through ball by Tielemans.
The Gunners had eight minutes of added time to rescue the game but it was too much to ask, as they slipped to defeat.
Arteta's men remain second on the table, two points behind leaders Manchester City with six games left in the season.
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