Arsenal suffered a huge blow on Sunday in the battle for the Premier League title. Mikel Arteta's team was surprisingly beaten at home by Aston Villa, which struck in the final phase through Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins: 0-2. Arsenal fails to take advantage of Liverpool's defeat against Crystal Palace (0-1) and remains second. Manchester City is at the top after the 32nd round and has two points more than both competitors. Moreover, City has by far the simplest remaining program on paper.

Liverpool's defeat against Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday was a huge boost for Arsenal. Still knew The Gunners that nothing less than three points would count against Aston Villa, because Manchester City is also very close.

At Arsenal, Kai Havertz moved from the striker position to midfield, leaving no place for Jorginho in the starting line-up. Leandro Trossard was preferred to Gabriel Martinelli on the left front. Gabriel Jesus was at the forefront.

As expected, the initiative fell with Arsenal. The Londoners also had some good chances in the first half. Havertz shot at Emiliano Martínez from an awkward angle after fifteen minutes, while Gabriel Jesus produced a weak header a few minutes later after a cross from Bukayo Saka.

Just before half time, Aston Villa threatened to strike from the counter. Ollie Watkins struck the ball eye to eye with David Raya at the far post. At the other end, Trossard should have finished it off after good preparatory work by Gabriel Jesus, but Martínez made a miraculous save.

After the break, Arsenal's chances dried up. Youri Tielemans scored a miracle goal after an hour of play, but the Aston Villa midfielder saw his beautiful shot bounce off the underside of the crossbar against the post: no goal.

Things weren't going well for Arsenal in the final stages. Arteta made a striking intervention in the 79th minute by replacing his star players Gabriel Jesus and Martin Ødegaard. Five minutes later Aston Villa struck. A low cross from Lucas Digne was missed by everything and everyone at the first post, after which Bailey got a tap-in at the second: 0-1.

Three minutes later it was decided by Watkins. The striker attacked Raya under pressure from Emile Smith Rowe and finished it off with a neat chip: 0-2.

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