Aston Villa 2 Arsenal 1: Emi Buendia scores last-kick winner

The Argentina international, brought off the bench with just minutes remaining, fired into the top corner after a goalmouth scramble as Unai Emery’s inflicted a first defeat since August on the Gunners.

Matty Cash had put Villa, who are now up to second in the table just three points behind the leaders, on course for victory when he netted nine minutes before the break.

But Leandro Trossard levelled for the Gunners early in the second half and Villa looked set to be denied victory before the dramatic finish.

Analysis

Buendia's goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time was the spark for incredible scenes of celebration at Villa Park, with boss Emery jumping several feet into the air from the technical area.

Until then, Villa had looked on course for a more than creditable point after an impressive performance against the manager's former club.

Ollie Watkins had twice been denied by Gunners goalkeeper David Raya, who also saved from Morgan Rogers in the closing stages.

But Trossard's goal looked to have earned the visitors a hard-earned draw before the late drama.

Villa have now won five straight Premier League matches and nine in succession at home in all competitions.

Martin Odegaard had the first shot of the match after finding space outside the Villa box but struck his effort too close to Emi Martinez.

Then came the first big chance for Villa. John McGinn found Ollie Watkins, who did superbly to wrestle his way past the challenges of Piero Hincapie and Jurrien Timber. But the finish lacked power and Raya guessed correctly, diving low to his left to make the save.

Noise levels inside Villa Park were rising, yet it was Arsenal who had the next effort, Bukayo Saka bringing a sharp save from Martinez with a shot from distance.

The England international then thought he had provided the opener when Eberechi Eze tapped home his cross at the far post, only for the flag to instantly be raised.

Villa were seeing plenty of the ball in the visiting half, without creating a big chance but nine minutes before the break they were ahead.

Torres’ cross from the left took a nick off a defender to take it over the head of Watkins but Cash arrived at the far post to send a first-time finish through the legs of Raya.

Trossard was introduced alongside Viktor Gyokeres at the break and almost got the leveller with a volley which whistled just past Martinez’s far post.

Just moments later, he converted a far simpler chance from just a couple of yards out to square things up. Onana lost the ball in midfield and though Martinez saved Saka’s shot, the ball ran to Trossard who could not miss.

Villa’s response to being pegged back was positive. Ian Maatsen shot over, before two big chances arrived in the space of a minute.

First, Boubacar Kamara was guilty of hesitating after winning the ball on the edge of the Arsenal box. Then, Watkins was again denied low down by Raya after a swift Villa counter attack.

Back came Arsenal. Martinez got fingertips to an Odegaard drive to send it over the bar. Villa then struggled to clear the resulting corner and Kamara was in the right place to block Saka’s goalbound shot.

Emery brought Donyell Malen off the bench and he pulled a shot just wide of the far post as Villa came within a whisker of going back in front.

There were more howls of anguish from the Holte End when Timber slid in and almost diverted Maatsen’s cross into his own net, before Raya stood tall to deny Rogers at the near post.

That looked to be that until Buendia fired into the top corner following an almighty scramble. 

Villa kept the ball alive with both Tielemans and Buendia denied by Raya before the latter steadied himself to shoot into the roof of the net and spark pandemonium on the pitch and in the stands.

Key Moments

36 GOAL Matty Cash fires Villa in front. His first-time finish from Pau Torres’ cross goes through the legs of David Raya.

52 GOAL Leandro Trossard levels things up, tapping home at the far post after Emi Martinez saves from Bukayo Saka.

90+4 GOAL Emi Buendia wins it at the death for Villa, firing home after a goalmouth scramble.

Teams

Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Cash (Buendia 86), Konsa, Torres (Lindelof 86), Maatsen, Kamara, Onana (Bogarde 75), Tielemans, McGinn (Sancho 75), Rogers, Watkins (Malen 66) Subs not used: Lindelof, Digne, Garcia, Hemmings, Buendia, Bizot (gk).

Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya, White, Timber, Hincapie, Calafiori (Lewis-Skelly 86), Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka (Madueke 79), Merino (Gyokeres HT), Eze (Trossard HT (Martinelli 86)) Subs not used: Norgaard, Nwaneri, Salmon, Kepa (gk).