Emi Buendia’s last-gasp winner fires Aston Villa into title race with win over Arsenal – latest reaction

Not so long ago, Arsenal were regarded by many as the runaway champions-in-waiting. They always knew it was never going to be so simple, but equally they cannot have predicted that Villa would suddenly emerge as one of their closest challengers. The gap between the two teams is now only three points, and Villa have the momentum. 

This was Villa’s seventh consecutive victory in all competitions and it was surely the most important yet. Once again, the intelligence and energy of Emery’s team proved too much for their more illustrious opponents — just as it had against Manchester City in October. 

Matty Cash and Buendia were the scorers for Villa, who conceded to Leandro Trossard in a wonderfully tense second half. At the moment of Trossard’s equaliser, it felt inevitable that Arsenal would seize control of the game. But it was Villa who grew stronger, Emery who made the more impactful late substitutes and Buendia who produced the decisive moment. 

More to follow…