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The Gunners suffered a shock loss to Aston Villa to end a run of 11 undefeated matches in the Premier League, leaving their title hopes in tatters
Arsenal's hopes of clinching the Premier League title suffered a significant setback as they suffered a devastating defeat to Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. Despite a bright start, Arsenal failed to capitalise on their dominance, allowing Villa to snatch a crucial victory and denting their title aspirations.
Two late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins condemned the Gunners to a loss at home, and dealt a blow that could possibly cost Arsenal the Premier League title this season.
How it happened
In the early stages of the match, Arsenal looked the better side, with Martin Ødegaard and Leandro Trossard posing a constant threat to the Villa defence. Villa struggled to gain a foothold in the game as Arsenal dominated possession and pressed forward relentlessly.
However, Villa's defensive resilience prevented Arsenal from finding a breakthrough, with goalkeeper Emi Martinez denying his former club on several occasions. Ollie Watkins came close to breaking the deadlock for Villa, hitting the post with a well-struck effort just before halftime.
The second half saw both teams continue to battle for supremacy, with chances at a premium as the tension mounted. Villa thought they had taken the lead when Youri Tielemans struck the woodwork with a stunning curled effort, but luck was not on their side.
As the clock ticked down, Villa finally broke the deadlock in the 84th minute, with Leon Bailey finishing from a tight angle at the back post after a dangerous cross from Lucas Digne. The goal sent shockwaves through the Emirates Stadium and left Arsenal scrambling to find an equaliser.
With just minutes remaining, Villa put the result beyond doubt as Ollie Watkins doubled their lead, sealing the win for the visitors and condemning Arsenal to a devastating defeat. The loss leaves Arsenal second in the Premier League table, missing out on a crucial opportunity to overtake their rivals and claim the top spot.
As the title race heats up, Arsenal will need to regroup quickly and bounce back from this setback if they are to keep their title dreams alive in the final stretch of the season.
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