Advantage Aston Villa! Villa humiliates Arsenal 2-0
Arsenal's title hopes in tatters as Aston Villa stuns Emirates Stadium
Unai Emery masterminds a shocking victory against his former club, with goals from Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia sentencing Arsenal to a damaging defeat.
London, England - Arsenal's Premier League title ambitions were dealt a major blow as Aston Villa secured a stunning 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Goals from Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia in either half condemned the Gunners to their first league defeat of the season, leaving them five points behind leaders Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta's side had started the campaign in impressive fashion, winning their opening five games, but their momentum has been halted by a run of three defeats in four matches.
Unai Emery, the former Arsenal manager, returned to the Emirates Stadium with a clear game plan and his team executed it to perfection.
Watkins opened the scoring in the 16th minute, latching onto a long ball from Tyrone Mings and finishing coolly past Aaron Ramsdale.
Buendia doubled Villa's lead in the 69th minute, curling a beautiful free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards out.
Arsenal pushed for a way back into the game but Villa's defense held firm, with Emiliano Martinez producing a number of fine saves.
The defeat is a major setback for Arsenal, who now face an uphill battle to catch Manchester City.
Emery, meanwhile, will be delighted with his team's performance and will feel that they have turned a corner after a difficult start to the season.
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