EMILIANO BUENDIA helped Aston Villa gatecrash the title race as they earned a dramatic 2-1 win over Arsenal with a 95th minute winner.
The Premier League leaders were eyeing their first Premier League away win since the start of November as they visited Unai Emery‘s in-form Villans as Mikel Arteta named three changes to the team which beat Brentford midweek.
However, a laboured first half saw Matty Cash open the scoring for Villa with a crisp volley, prompting Arteta to hook Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino at half-time for Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres.
The call paid off as Trossard scored seven minutes into the second half.
But Arsenal could not gain total control of the game and were forced to weather an intense storm before Buendia crashed home an injury-time winner despite some desperate Arsenal defending.
A major blow for Arsenal on their title charge as Villa moved to within four points of them. Here’s how SunSport’s Graham Hill rated the Gunners.
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David Raya – 6
Looked slightly shaky under Villa pressure early on, but made two important saves from Ollie Watkins.
Cash’s shot for the opening goal went through his legs at the near post – saw his defence crumble in front of him for Villa’s winner
Ben White – 6
Got forward well, but when he had a first half chance to equalise, he failed to connect and Emi Martinez saved.
Worked hard to stem most Villa attacks.
Jurrien Timber – 6
Showed good vision at times but there needed to be some give and take considering Arsenal’s current injury problems meant this was a sixth different central defensive pairing of the season.
Part of the chaos at the end that led to the Villa winner
Piero Hincapie – 5
Had to work hard to counter the pace of Watkins and he would have been glad to see him subbed in the second half.
But the arrival of Donyell Malen gave him a new problem, with Villa’s flying Dutchman almost scoring the winner.
Riccardo Calafiori – 6
Provided an impressive attacking option out wide from left-back and caused some problems for Villa’s defence.
But there was not enough end product and he was subbed near the end.
Martin Zubimendi – 6
Played a sturdy and sensible role alongside Odegaard and Rice. But he was made to work hard by Villa who were capable of breaking quickly.
He could do nothing as Villa stepped up a gear in the final moments.
Declan Rice – 7
Shook off an injury scare and put his body on the line at times, which was illustrated when he blocked a fierce drive from Cash.
Wasted a first half chance to score but always quick to spot danger and looked an assured figure.
Martin Odegaard – 7
The beating heart of Arsenal’s play. Always ready to pounce on any Villa errors when Gunners applied pressure.
Looked creative and made Arsenal tick. He played a crucial role in the Gunners’ equaliser.
Bukayo Saka – 7
Had an eye for goal from the start, went close twice in the space of a minute before the break. But his involvement in Arsenal’s equaliser was key as he combined with Odegaard before Trossard levelled.
Lost his cool a little near the end when he was booked for a foul on Ian Maatsen, collided with Martinez and was then taken off soon after.
Eberechi Eze – 4
Failed to spot Cash’s run on the right for Villa opener. He went to sleep for the goal but offered little going forward during an ineffective half.
As a result, he was taken off at half-time, a game to forget.
Mikel Merino – 5
Offered little during the first half and was largely anonymous.
Uncharacteristic performance from the Arsenal forward who has impressed this season. Arteta clearly felt the Spaniard needed to come off at half-time…
Subs
Viktor Gyokeres (on for Merino, halftime) – 5
Added little to the Arsenal attack when he came on after the break.
Arteta clearly felt the Swede was capable of producing a match winning moment, but it did not come
Leandro Trossard (on for Eze, halftime) – 7
Came on for the second half and had an immediate chance to equalise, but screwed his shot wide of the far post.
But he was on hand to score the equaliser just moments later after a superb move the right flank. The sub was subbed late on though as Arteta appeared be content with a point.
Noni Madueke (on for Saka, 79 minutes) – 6
Came on for Saka when he was in danger of collecting a second booking. But his arrival co-incided with a spell of Villa dominance and his presence was required in the Arsenal half.
He threatened to score the winner in stoppage time though, only to find the side netting.
Gabriel Martinelli (on for Trossard, 86 minutes) – N/A
Myles Lewis-Skelly (on for Calafiori, 86 minutes) – N/A
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