Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal welcomed weekend visitor Aston Villa to the Emirates in a clash that gave Arsenal the chance to go back top of the Premier League table.
The clash ended in embarrassing defeat for Arsenal as Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins rose to bury the Gunners in their home ground.
Recall that Villa’s manager Unai Emery, managed Arsenal until the 2019/20 season when he was sacked from his role.
Arsenal has had very few injuries this season, with only Jurrien Timber being the key player unavailable for selection at the moment. This meant that the North London club started several key players including captain Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Gabriel Jesus.
Villa had some injuries, with Douglas Luiz, Boubacar Kamara, and Tyrone Mings absent from the starting lineup. Emery did start Watkins, John McGinn, Moussa Diaby, and Emiliano Martinez though.
It was a hard fought victory for Emery’s men, as the first goal of the game didn’t come until the 84th minute, and it came through a Leon Bailey strike.
Arsenal hoped to get an equalizer, but they instead got a dagger in the form of a Watkins goal in the 87th minute to make it 2-0 to Villa.
With Liverpool having lost earlier in the day, Arsenal missed the chance to go top of the table, and instead remain in second place.
Villa, for it’s part, has regained a place in the top four, especially after Tottenham’s thrashing at the hands of Newcastle on Saturday, April 13.
