Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal: Buendia Stoppage-Time Winner Blows Title Race Open

Emi Buendia scored a dramatic 95th-minute winner with the final kick of the game as Aston Villa stunned Premier League leaders Arsenal 2-1 at Villa Park on Saturday. The victory moves Unai Emery’s side into second place, narrowing the gap at the top of the table to just three points.

Arsenal, who had not lost a league match since a 1-0 defeat at Liverpool in August, appeared to have salvaged a point through substitute Leandro Trossard. However, a defensive lapse in stoppage time allowed Buendia to curl home the winner, extending Villa’s winning streak to seven matches in all competitions.

Late Drama at Villa Park

The match began with high intensity, as Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze saw an early goal disallowed for offside. However, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock in the first half. A defensive lapse from the Gunners—specifically involving Eze failing to track back on the left flank—allowed Matty Cash to drill a finish past the goalkeeper at the far post.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta responded at halftime, introducing Viktor Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard to revitalize the attack. The changes paid dividends when Trossard netted his sixth goal of the season—and his 50th in the Premier League—to level the scores.

As the clock ticked down, Arsenal pushed for a winner. Captain Martin Odegaard saw a goal-bound effort brilliantly tipped over by Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez. However, the gamble to push forward left Arsenal exposed. In the dying seconds, the visitors failed to clear their lines, allowing Buendia to seize the loose ball and curl a strike into the net, sending the home crowd into raptures.

Defensive Frailties Cost Arsenal

While Arsenal’s attack has been potent—blowing away Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks—injuries are beginning to test the depth of Arteta’s squad.

Already missing the defensive stability of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, Arsenal were dealt another blow prior to kick-off with news that Cristhian Mosquera is ruled out for six weeks. This forced a reshuffle, with Jurrien Timber deputizing at centre-back and Ben White returning to the right flank.

This was only the fourth time since the start of the 2022-23 season that Arsenal have started a league game without either Saliba or Gabriel, and their absence was felt in both boxes.

Analysis: A Shift in Momentum?

The result confirms Aston Villa’s credentials as genuine title contenders. Emery’s side has now won nine of their last 10 league matches, and this victory over his former club serves as a significant statement of intent.

For Arsenal, the defeat highlights the fragility of a squad managing a heavy fixture list and mounting injuries. While the relationship between White, Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka on the right remains a key attacking outlet, the defensive restructuring on the left—where Eze was forced to shoulder defensive responsibilities—proved costly for the opening goal.

With seven more games remaining this month, Arteta will be eager to ensure this result is merely a blip rather than the beginning of a mid-season slump.