Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery dealt a blow to his old team’s hopes of winning the Premier League yet again. Aston Villa secured a 2-0 victory over Arsenal, moving Manchester City to the top of the league table.
Aston Villa defended well throughout the game, with goals from Leon Bailey in the 84th minute and Ollie Watkins two minutes later sealed the win. This defeat marked Arsenal’s first loss in the league in 2024, prompting reflections on their collapse in the previous season, which allowed Manchester City to claim the title.
Emery, who took over from Arsène Wenger at Arsenal but was dismissed after just 18 months, has now overseen two clean sheets against his former club this season.
This outcome could significantly impact Mikel Arteta’s team’s chances of clinching the title.
For Villa, the victory propelled them ahead of Tottenham in fourth place, though Spurs have a game in hand.
The match saw Arsenal dominating possession early on, creating several chances, while Villa threatened on the counterattack and struck the woodwork twice.
A defensive lapse allowed Bailey to score Villa’s first goal, followed by Watkins’ composed finish on the counterattack. Watkins’s 19th league goal of the season puts him just one behind Man City’s Erling Haaland in the scoring charts.
