Arsenal rejected the gift of its rival Liverpool, who lost to Crystal Palace earlier, and conceded two goals towards the end and also lost 2-0 to Aston Villa on Sunday, so Manchester City, the leader and holder of the English Premier League title, benefited from this situation.
After coach Jurgen Klopp’s team lost 1-0 earlier against Crystal Palace in a match in which Mohamed Salah’s teammates wasted many opportunities, Arsenal was determined to take the lead.
But Arsenal, like its rival Liverpool, wasted numerous opportunities amid the brilliance of Aston Villa’s Argentine goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, before conceding two goals near the end, scored by Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins.
The score almost became greater, as Aston Villa previously shot the woodwork twice.
Arsenal’s balance froze at 71 points in second place, equal to Liverpool in third place and two points behind leaders City.
Arsenal suffered its first defeat in the last 12 league matches, while fourth-placed Aston Villa increased its chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season after expanding the gap with fifth-placed Tottenham to three points, but played a game more.
“We knew this moment might come, and now it’s about reacting, continuing to believe and doing everything we can,” Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta told reporters.
“Now is the time for every player to show his personality and leadership abilities and put the team’s interests first. When you win continuously for four months, it is very simple and easy, but this is the moment of truth and we have to stand up.”
Bailly put Aston Villa ahead in the 84th minute after a cross from the left passed everyone inside the area and reached Bailly, who shot a powerful ball into the net.
His teammate Watkins doubled the lead three minutes later after receiving a pass from Youri Tielemans that put him alone in the goal and finished the ball into the net easily.
This was Watkins’ 19th goal in the league. In addition to ten assists in the league, Watkins comes behind Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe as the players who have contributed the most goals in the five major league competitions in Europe this season.
England national team striker Watkins told Sky Sports: “It is amazing to beat Arsenal in their own home while they are in this wonderful technical condition. Winning in this way shows the extent of the great improvement in the team. We gave an exemplary performance away from our stadium.”
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