Aston Villa Stuns Arsenal with Late WinnerAston Villa Stuns Arsenal with Late Winner Aston Villa shocked Arsenal with a dramatic late winner at Villa Park on Saturday, securing a 2-1 victory that has reignited the race for the Premier League top four. The match started brightly for Arsenal, who took the lead in the 25th minute through Martin Ødegaard. The Norwegian midfielder curled a beautiful free-kick into the top corner, giving Emiliano Martínez no chance. Aston Villa responded well and leveled the score just before halftime. Jacob Ramsey played a clever one-two with Ollie Watkins before slotting the ball past Aaron Ramsdale. The second half was a tense affair, with both teams creating chances but failing to find the winning goal. Arsenal dominated possession but struggled to break down Villa’s resolute defense. Just when the match looked destined to end in a draw, Ollie Watkins popped up with a stunning winner in the 89th minute. The striker received a pass from Boubacar Kamara and turned brilliantly before firing a low shot into the bottom corner. The late goal sent Villa Park into raptures and stunned Arsenal, who had been in control for much of the match. The victory lifted Villa up to ninth in the table, while Arsenal remained in fifth place, just one point ahead of Manchester United. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left to rue his team’s missed opportunities and late lapse in concentration. “We had enough chances to win the game today, but we didn’t take them,” he said. “We have to learn from this and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again.” Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was delighted with his team’s performance and praised their resilience. “I’m so proud of my players,” he said. “They showed great belief and determination to come back from behind and win the match. This is a big result for us and it gives us a lot of confidence going forward.”
