Arsenal vs Aston Villa final score, result, stats, highlights as Bailey and Watkins stun title-chasing Gunners

Dom Farrell

Arsenal vs Aston Villa final score, result, stats, highlights as Bailey and Watkins stun title-chasing Gunners image

Late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins gave Aston Villa a stunning 2-0 win at Arsenal as the Premier League title race swung heavily — and perhaps decisively — in Manchester City's direction.

Pep Guardiola's side applied the pressure on Saturday with a 5-1 win over Luton Town and watched first Liverpool and then the Gunners buckle on Sunday.

Arsenal began strongly after the boost of Liverpool's shock 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace at Anfield and should have led through Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard.

Watkins struck the post on the visitors' only notable attack of the first half but Unai Emery's side grew into the contest as nerves consumed Arsenal.

Substitute Bailey, who also has a winner against City among his body of work from this season, opened the scoring six minutes from time.

It feels significant that the reigning champions have not lost since that December reverse at Villa Park and Watkins' coolly dispatched 19th goal of the season to leave Mikel Arteta in the unenviable position of needing Guardiola and his players to falter.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa final score

  2nd Half Goalscorers
Arsenal 0  
Aston Villa 2 Bailey 84', Watkins 86'

Lineups:

Arsenal (4-3-3, right to left): 22. David Raya (GK) — 4. Ben White (18. Takehiro Tomiyasu), 2. William Saliba, 6. Gabriel, 35. Oleksandr Zinchenko — 8. Martin Odegaard (20. Jorginho), 41. Declan Rice, 29. Kai Havertz — 7. Bukayo Saka, 9. Gabriel Jesus (10. Emile Smith Rowe), 19. Leandro Trossard (11. Gabriel Martinelli).

Aston Villa (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Emiliano Martinez (GK) — 4. Ezri Konsa, 3. Diego Carlos, 14. Pau Torres, 12. Lucas Digne — 22. Nicolo Zaniolo (15. Alex Moreno), 7. John McGinn, 8, Youri Tielemans, 27. Morgan Rogers — 11. Ollie Watkins, 19. Moussa Diaby (31. Leon Bailey).

MORE: Liverpool vs Crystal Palace live score, result, updates, stats from Premier League game at Anfield

The tension that gripped Emirates Stadium as the second half wore on was nowhere to be found early on. A home crowd buoyed by Liverpool's slip-up was treated to an effervescent opening from Arteta's side.

Jesus was restored to the starting XI and should have done much better with an 18th-minute header at the end of a flowing move. The Brazil international wastefully nodded Bukayo Saka's cross into the side netting at the far post.

Jesus playing at centre-forward meant Kai Havertz was redeployed into an attacking midfield position. His penetrating runs between Villa right-back Ezri Konsa and centre-back Diego Carlos were a persistent headache for Emery's team.

Watkins gave Arsenal a scare in the 39th minute when Gabriel ploughing a clearance into Oleksandr Zinchenko's back allowed the England striker to hammer a shot against the base of the left post. The ball spun across the goalmouth and out for a goal kick.

The hosts responded immediately, tearing down the other end where Jesus found Trossard and ex-Gunners goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made an astonishing close-range save.

From that point, Arsenal's first-half shot count of 14 dwindling to four in the second period told the story of an increasingly inhibited team. Emery, on his latest return to a ground where he endured such misery, had his strategy on point as Villa gradually raised the pressure.

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Arteta's substitutions, by contrast, did not meet the mark. The misfiring Jesus and the excellent Martin Odegaard making way served to further diminish an already dwindling attacking threat. It meant that when Bailey dispatched Lucas Digne's low cross from a tight angle, it was hard for them to muster a coherent response.

Instead, they rushed forward, exposing themselves to Watkins' pace on the end of a raking pass from Youri Tielemans, who clattered the crossbar from ranger earlier in the half. That was another event to ramp up Arsenal's anxiety; Watkins' lofted finish over David Raya plunged them into despair.

Are Man City going to win the Premier League?

The table is still very tight on paper, with Liverpool and Arsenal two points shy of the champions and 18 points still up for grabs. All it takes is City having an afternoon like either of their rivals have had to throw everything back into a state of flux.

City are in FA Cup semifinal action next weekend, which means there is a good chance of them being third in the table once more by the time they travel to Brighton & Hove Albion. Their game in hand at Tottenham does not take place until the final midweek of the season. There is also the prospect of City and Arsenal facing one another in the Champions League semifinals and all of the volatile fallout from that.

However, the element of Guardiola and the core of his players having done this before means they are better equipped than most teams to deal with pressure being sent back their way. Liverpool must negotiate three away games in succession and Arsenal have the toughest set of remaining fixtures. By the time that Tottenham game comes around, City might be in a position to wrap things up.

This would be a consequential weekend in any title race. When the third party is a reigning champion chasing a fourth consecutive crown — a feat never accomplished in English football — then these Arsenal and Liverpool slips come to feel very weighty indeed.

Will Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League?

Take the focus a small way south from the title picture and observe an incredible weekend for Aston Villa, their goalkeeper who Arsenal didn't want to keep, and their manager who Arsenal sacked. Some weekend too for Watkins, whose 19 goals this season put him one behind Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race and he hasn't even taken a penalty.

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But Villa's victory is made all the more significant by events elsewhere, firstly in Europe last midweek, where they were the only remaining English team to win their game. That had a knock-on in terms of UEFA's co-efficient calculations. Fifth place in the Premier League might not mean a place in the expanded Champions League; fourth place definitely does, and Tottenham's 4-0  loss to Newcastle United means they're three points behind Villa. Ange Postecoglou's side have a game in hand (against City, as mentioned above) but an inferior goal difference.

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace stats

Arsenal Stats Aston Villa
18 Shots 11
4 Shots on target 2
2.87 Expected goals 1.87
52% Possession 48%
444 Passes 421
4 Corners 6
5 Offsides 1
12 Fouls 7
3 Yellow cards 1

Arsenal vs Aston Villa live updates, highlights, and commentary

Fulltime

It's all over. A Premier League weekend that Pep Guardiola couldn't have scripted more perfectly if he's written the whole thing himself in Catalan is over. City did what was expected and thrashed Luton; Liverpool and now Arsenal did not do what was expected to each fall two points behind with six games remaining. Those maths means it is far, far from over. City have next weekend off for he FA Cup semifinals. But it doesn't pay to give the champions this sort of an opportunity. Arsenal were brilliant for 45 minutes here and should have been in front. The weight of history then seemed to catch up with them as Villa took a huge step towards Champions League qualification.

90th minute: There'll be eight minutes of stoppage time but it's all too painful for plenty of Arsenal fans who have headed for the exits.

86th minute: GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!!!!! Ollie Watkins!!!!!

Watkins closes to within a goal of Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race and has shoved the Manchester City man closer to his second Premier League title in the process. Arsenal pile forward desperately and that leaves them vulnerable to the ball over the top. This is Watkins' happy place, he closes in on goal, waits for Raya to dip and lobs into the net. A wonderful finish and almost certainly an incredible win for Aston Villa.

84th minuteGOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!!!!! Leon Bailey!!!!!!

It has been on the cards and finally Arsenal break. Another huge moment on a crazy day in the title race. Digne flashes a cross in from the left. Torres is still up from the last corner and can't make the decisive connection. Bailey is on hand to finish from a tight angle at the far post.

82nd minute: Konsa's cross is cleared for a throw by Gabriel. Arsenal's excellent defence is standing firm, which is just as well because they've more or less vanished as an attacking force.

80th minute: Zaniolo is also out of commission, with Moreno on in his place.

78th minute: Zaniolo has a couple of very serious injuries in his past, so you don't want to accuse him of crying wolf. However, he's down on the turf and milking some hostile attention from the locals. Double change for Arsenal as Smith Rowe and Jorginho replace Jesus and Odegaard. The latter's withdrawal certainly suggests an eye on Bayern. 

75th minute: A couple of Villa corners come to nought for the visitors. For Arsenal, they're a couple of minutes closer to dropped points. They have another on the left. Tielemans can't do much with a couple of bits at crosses into the box.

72nd minute: Martinelli wants a free-kick after going down in a jostle with Konsa. He's not getting one.

66th minute: Villa's latest bout of set-piece pressure ends when Carlos attempts an overhead kick and boots Odegaard. Ouch.

64th minute: Jesus lines up a shot from outside the box. Martinez comes out on top in this Argentina vs. Brazil joust. It was a nice height for him,

62nd minuteTielemans hits the bar and the post with the same shot! This might be as mad as it sounds. Tielemans takes a fairly poor corner but in Zinchenko's haste to break he gets the ball back. The Belgium midfielder whips a vicious shot over Raya, it skims the underside of his bar, onto the upright and clear. Huge escape for the title chasers.

60th minute: Teasing Saka corner from the right. Villa clear and Rice balloons a volley halfway into the middle of Islington. Straight swap for Villa as Bailey replaces Diaby.

56th minute: A shimmy and a spin from Odegaard. By heavens, he's a gem. The Norway playmaker finds Trossard, whose in-swinging delivery is the right idea but too close to Martinez.

54th minute: Compared to the high-octane opening, it's been a very quiet start to this second period. Zaniolo into the Arsenal box now and he's stopped in his tracks. Some howls of mild desperation around the Emirates. The visitors are playing well and, certainly once we get past the hour, it will feel like that clock is ticking quite loudly.

50th minute: Odegaard lines up an Arsenal free-kick and it's Konsa's turn to take a dead ball in the face. Nods of approval from Good Football Men across the land.

Kickoff: Second half

We're back underway. No alterations yet for either side.

Halftime

Digne pumps one into the box and Konsa bundles wide at the back post. Arsenal were excellent for a lot of that half but couldn't find a way through and almost went behind when Watkins' shot somehow didn't go in off the post. Manchester City are 45 minutes away from an unimaginably good weekend.

45th minute+2: Digne takes left footed and the wall does its job. More specifically, Gabriel took it clean in the face and the referee is checking he's okay.

45th minute: Clumsy challenge from Gabriel, who brings down Rogers right on the edge of the area. Yellow card for the defender. A sting in the tail of a pulsating first half? 

43rd minute: Villa cough up the ball in transition. Jesus has Trossard for company but he can't capitalise.

41st minute: Saka shifts inside and curls a sweetly struck effort just past the far post. It feels like folly to doubt him after what just happened but I'm not sure Martinez was getting there if it was in target.

40th minuteEmi Martinez with an unreal save! Two huge moments in as many minutes. Arsenal carve through Villa again and Trossard is on the end of the cutback, four yards out. He applies the finish and Martinez hurls himself in the way. Truly remarkable.

39th minute: OH MY WORD HOW HAS THAT STAYED OUT?!?!?! Gabriel lumps a clearance into Zinchenko, Watkins picks up the pieces and drives across goal. It hits the inside of the post, spins across the goal mouth and out for a goal kick. Goodness!

38th minute: Rice squeezes one across and Carlos mops up at the second attempt. His first try briefly looked in danger of spinning into his own net. Now Odegaard swivels to play an astonishing pass to Havertz, whose cross is headed over at the far post by Saka.

36th minute: Zinchenko puts the ball out so Zaniolo can receive some treatment. The break in play sees White booked for the earlier shirt pull.

35th minute: Zaniolo slips away from White on halfway despite a shirt pull. He finds Diaby, who lines up a shot from 25 yards that Gabriel blocks.

32nd minute: Carlos getting through a lot of work back there. Trossard takes a tumble but that's not a penalty.

30th minute: Havertz's runs through that left channel between Konsa and Carlos continue to cause havoc. Carlos gets back to make a muscular intervention this time and it's an Arsenal corner.

29th minute: Diaby and Rogers combine to find the overlapping Konsa, who slices his cross behind. Very much the work of a fullback who's found himself under the cosh so far.

27th minute: Villa finally enjoy a decent spell of possession in Arsenal territory. Rogers darts into the box but White emerges with the ball.

24th minute: Jesus scampers in towards the six-yard box and has a shot blocked. It's starting to feel like a matter of time.

23rd minute: Zinchenko looks for Havertz once more, with Martinez out to deal with the danger this time. The Argentina goalkeeper is also quick to punt the ball back downfield. Probably too quick and Zinchenko has a decent go a catching him out with some return fire from near the halfway line.

21st minute: Trossard hares back to dispossess Watkins after Zinchenko got caught in-field.

20th minute: Go across goal, lads! Odegaard slips his latest delight of a pass in to Saka. He's in behind but clumps a shot at the near post. It just needs the final touch because Arsenal are playing some glorious stuff.

18th minuteBig chance for Jesus! Rice and Odegaard work the play over the Saka, who cuts in on his left foot to cross. Havertz's run drags Konsa with him, leaving Jesus in room at the far post. He heads wastefully into the side netting.

16th minute: Zinchenko lofts one over the top for Havertz, who is eventually denied by Martinez and a gaggle of Villa defenders. And there's our old friend the late offside flag.

14th minute: Arsenal's latest rumbling attack is halted by an offside flag as Jesus errs. Saka is limping after a collision with Rogers. Worth keeping an eye on that one.

8th minute: Torres gets into a bit of a mess on halfway and Arsenal launch another attack. Saka opts for a lofted cross when he might have been better off going low. Jesus certainly seems to think so.

6th minute: Odegaard again, who slips a lovely pass down the right channel for Saka. Tielemans gets back to get in the way of the cross.

3rd minute: Odegaard knits together a nice Arsenal move that ends with White booting a speculative attempt over.

Kickoff: First half

Off we go. Are Arsenal 90 minutes away from returning to the top of the table, or is there another twist?

5 mins before kickoff: It was striking how Liverpool have looked an awful lot like Arsenal last season over the past week, running out of steam. Significantly, an improved Gunners side have not looked like that yet. They have a huge opportunity today. The teams are in the tunnel.

30 mins before kickoff: Crystal Palace have beaten Liverpool 1-0. A seismic moment in the title race. As far as Arsenal are concerned, it means a win today would put them back a point above Manchester City and three better off than Liverpool with six games remaining.

40 mins before kickoff: We're into seven minutes of stoppage time at Anfield. Liverpool are still 1-0 down to Crystal Palace. You can follow some big moments in the title race right HERE.

50 mins before kickoff: Here's the Villa team. Unai Emery also has European considerations to weigh and makes two changes to the XI that beat Lille 2-1 on Thursday. Nicolo Zaniolo replaces the suspended Douglas Luiz, while Moussa Diaby swaps in for Leon Bailey.

1 hour before kickoff: We have our answer. Arteta goes strong. Oleksandr Zinchenko is in at left-back, with Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard selected to freshen up the forward line. That means Kai Havertz reverts to a midfield role.

1 hour 20 mins before kickoff: Team news will be with us shortly. It will be intriguing to see how Mikel Arteta plays this one. He doesn't really have the luxury of making six changes as Pep Guardiola did for Manchester City's win over an injury-hit Luton Town on Saturday. Surely he has to go as strong as possible. The trip to Bayern Munich is huge on Wednesday, but not as huge as the possibility of a first title for 20 years.

1 hour 40 mins before kickoff: So, yes, Liverpool are 1-0 down at halftime against Crystal Palace at Anfield and, by all accounts, playing absolutely dreadfully. That could all change, given the Reds have taken 27 points from losing positions this season, but Arsenal could yet get a handy pre-kickoff boost.

2 hours before kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Arsenal vs. Aston Villa on what is already proving to be a rather interesting Sunday in the Premier League title race...

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Arsenal vs Aston Villa kick off time

This Premier League clash takes place at the Emirates Stadium in London, UK and kicks off on Sunday, April 14 at 4:30 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

  Date Kickoff time
USA Sun, Apr. 14 11:30 a.m. ET
Canada Sun, Apr. 14 11:30 a.m. ET
UK Sun, Apr. 14 4:30 p.m. BST
Australia Mon, Apr. 15 1:30 a.m. AEST
India Sun, Apr. 14 9:00 p.m. IST

Arsenal vs Aston Villa lineups, team news

Arteta has no fresh injuries to contend with as Jurrien Timber remains out. Gabriel JesusLeandro Trossard and Oleksandr Zinchenko rotated into the starting XI.

Arsenal (4-3-3, right to left): Raya (GK) — White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko — Havertz, Rice, Odegaard — Saka, Jesus, Trossard.

Arsenal subs: Ramsdale (GK), Partey, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Nketiah, Kiwior, Tomiyasu, Jorginho, Vieira.

Clement Lenglet returned to the Villa bench after a muscle strain along with fellow defender Matty Cash. Brazil international Douglas Luiz, with Nicolo Zaniolo starting in his place. Moussa Diaby replaces Leon Bailey.

Aston Villa (4-4-2, right to left): Martinez (GK) — Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne — Zaniolo, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers — Watkins, Diaby.

Aston Villa subs: Olsen (GK), Cash, Moreno, Chambers, Lenglet, Duran, Kesler-Hayden, Bailey, Iroegbunam

Arsenal vs Aston Villa live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world's major regions:

Region TV Streaming
USA NBC USA Network, Telemundo Fubo, NBC Sports app/website, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Canada

Fubo Canada

UK Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League Sky GO, Now TV
Australia Optus Sport
India JioTV, Hotstar

USA: This game is available on the NBC USA Network with streaming options on Fubo and the latter is currently offering a FREE trial. Telemundo is the place to go for Spanish language services.

Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live-streaming exclusively via Fubo.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on-demand on Optus Sport.

UK: This game is available via live broadcast on Sky Sports with streaming options on Sky GO and Now TV.

If Arsenal vs. Aston Villa is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favourite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.

WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day moneyback guarantee)

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.