Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes were dashed as Aston Villa scored twice in the dying moments to boost their top-four bid with a dramatic 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s side would have returned to the top of the table with a win, but they gave up the lead to Manchester City after conceding two goals in the final six minutes.
Leon Bailey put the visitors ahead, and Ollie Watkins doubled their lead, as Villa manager Unai Emery enjoyed a second sweet victory this season over the club that fired him in 2019.
Arsenal’s first defeat in 12 league games leaves them in second place, two points behind City, while third placed Liverpool are behind Arsenal on goal difference.
With just six games left, champions City are closing in on an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League crown.
City’s rout of Luton on Saturday had knocked Arsenal out of first place.
But the Gunners should have been on a high after Liverpool suffered a shock 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace just half an hour before kick-off in north London.
Instead, Arsenal produced a spluttering display that could prove fatal to their challenge for a first English title in 20 years.
It’s been a disappointing week for Arsenal, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, setting up a difficult trip to Germany for the second leg on Wednesday.
Arsenal are in danger of blowing an eight-point lead in the title race again this season after blowing it last year.
