Arsenal’s 18-match winning streak in the Premier League was tragically ended on Saturday as Aston Villa won 2-1 with the final kick.
According to a post-match report on the Arsenal website, Emilio Buendia scored at the very end to give the hosts their fifth consecutive victory.
Before turmoil in the Arsenal box gave Villa their victory, what had been an intense, end-to-end top-of-the-table match was only seconds away from being tied.
Before turmoil in the Arsenal box gave Villa their victory, what had been an intense, end-to-end top-of-the-table match was only seconds away from being tied.
After David Raya produced yet another sharp stop in a frantic goalmouth scramble, the loose ball fell kindly for Buendia, who “managed to find the net after a goalmouth scramble” to send Villa Park into delirium and condemn Arsenal to their first defeat since August.
The late twist came after Arsenal had hauled themselves back into the match through Leandro Trossard, who continued his inspired scoring run.
Introduced at halftime, the Belgian struck for the third consecutive league game, poking in after Emiliano Martínez parried a Bukayo Saka effort.
It marked his “50th Premier League goal and, more importantly, restored parity.”
Villa strike first through Cash
Villa had led at the interval thanks to Matty Cash, who struck in the 36th minute after Pau Torres’ cross deflected off Jurrien Timber and dropped perfectly at the far post, where Cash “thumped between Raya’s legs and handed the hosts the lead.”
Arsenal carved out chances of their own but found former Gunner Martínez in superb form. The goalkeeper pushed away a fierce Saka drive, denied Martin Ødegaard from close range and produced a crucial fingertip stop to turn an Ødegaard curler over the bar in the second half.
Mikel Arteta’s halftime adjustments briefly tilted momentum Arsenal’s way. Viktor Gyökeres and Trossard entered the fray, with Trossard almost scoring instantly before finally leveling moments later.
