Aston Villa brought Arsenal’s long period without defeat crashing to an end after Emiliano Buendia struck deep into stoppage time to hand his team a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Premier League leaders on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s men had fallen behind after Matty Cash finished off a first-half move, only for Leandro Trossard to step off the bench and drag Arsenal level after the break. What followed was an intense contest marked by missed openings from both sides until Buendia punished careless defending by smashing home the decisive goal with virtually the final kick of the match.
The loss marked Arsenal’s first setback in any competition since their narrow 1-0 defeat at Liverpool on August 31, the only previous time they had been beaten all season. Villa, meanwhile, once again troubled Arsenal at a crucial moment, continuing a trend from recent campaigns in which they have disrupted the north Londoners during tight title races. Their latest triumph also deepened the growing rivalry with former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, whose side have suddenly emerged as genuine contenders after stitching together seven consecutive wins across all competitions.
Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table now hangs by a thread, with Villa sitting only three points behind and Manchester City capable of reducing the gap to two if they defeat Sunderland later in the day. Emery had played down talk of Villa being in the title discussion earlier in the week, describing Arsenal as the strongest team in Europe. Still, his team’s performance sent a bold message, matching Arsenal stride for stride and delivering a bruising blow to their championship push.
Arteta’s squad arrived in Birmingham weakened by a defensive injury crisis. William Saliba, Gabriel, and Cristhian Mosquera were all unavailable, forcing Jurrien Timber to shift from right-back into central defence alongside Piero Hincapie. The makeshift pairing never fully settled, and Arsenal looked uneasy throughout. Arteta has insisted that the club are “prepared” to find solutions in the January transfer window if there is an opportunity to “improve” the team, and performances like this underline their need for both defensive depth and more attacking spark if they hope to end their long title drought dating back to 2004.
Villa nearly profited from Arsenal’s nerves within minutes of kickoff when David Raya miscued a clearance, only just recovering in time to prevent an embarrassing early concession. Ollie Watkins, an Arsenal supporter growing up, almost inflicted damage when Youri Tielemans slipped him through, but Raya kept his shot out with a strong save. Emiliano Martinez was soon called into action at the other end, denying Bukayo Saka’s curling effort before Eberechi Eze had a close-range finish chalked off for offside.
Cash, who has already hurt another title challenger this season with a winner against Manchester City, struck again in the 36th minute. Ian Maatsen’s cross was flicked into his path, and the full-back hammered his shot beyond Raya. With Arsenal having won only a single Premier League match from their last fifteen when trailing at the interval, Arteta reacted by introducing Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres, hoping to inject more directness and pace into his struggling attack.
Trossard made an immediate impression, testing Martinez and narrowly missing with a volley before finally delivering the equaliser in the 52nd minute. Martin Odegaard surged into Villa’s half and fed Saka, who drove a low ball across goal for Trossard to tuck away at the far post. It was the Belgian’s sixth goal of the campaign and the fiftieth of his Premier League career. But just as Arsenal appeared to gain control, Villa threatened again on the counter, with Watkins forcing Raya into a full-stretch stop. Odegaard then saw a powerful long-range attempt acrobatically tipped over by Martinez, while Donyell Malen went close for Villa in a wildly open finish.
The match seemed destined for a draw until Arsenal failed to clear their lines in the dying seconds, allowing Buendia to pounce. The Argentine drove a ruthless shot into the roof of the net from close range, sealing a dramatic win and sending Villa Park into delirium as Arsenal’s unbeaten run finally came to an end.
What you should know
This match marked a pivotal moment in the Premier League title race, with Aston Villa announcing themselves as serious contenders by ending Arsenal’s long unbeaten streak.
The game exposed Arsenal’s defensive issues, intensified by injuries, and underscored their pressing need for reinforcements ahead of the January transfer window. Villa’s victory not only tightened the standings but also highlighted their growing confidence under Unai Emery, who continues to reshape the club into a formidable force.
Buendia’s late strike delivered a symbolic blow to Arsenal’s ambitions and amplified the competitive tension near the top of the table.
