Aston Villa stood up and showcased their worth by dunking on Arsenal’s Premier League title chances on Sunday.
Unai Emery has done the double over his former side and probably now cost Mikel Arteta the chance to win the Premier League title.
But for Aston Villa themeless, that deserved 2-0 win means that control is now back in the team’s hands for a top-four finish.
Where do you start? Players from back to front performed and proved why Champions League football could be on the horizon.
The second-half display was, in particular, outstanding, which was even more impressive given that they played on Thursday night in the Europa Conference League against Lille.
There were some critical moments against Arsenal, including that quite outrageous save from Emiliano Martinez at 0-0 to deny Leandro Trossard from scoring.
Michael Owen described that moment as ‘amazing’ from the World Cup winner and how ‘you get nothing for safety in the Premier League’.
The former Liverpool man also wanted to give his flowers to Pau Torres and the role he played in Leon Bailey’s goal, as he told Premier League Productions (14/04/24 at 6:45 pm).
With Ian Wright lauding goalscoring machine Ollie Watkins for putting the cherry on top of the cake and netting his 19th goal of the campaign.
Emiliano Martinez, Pau Torres and Ollie Watkins help Aston Villa beat Arsenal
“It’s an amazing save,” said Owen about Martinez denying Trossard. “But he shouldn’t have a chance (to save it. He (Trossard) literally has three-quarters of the goal to aim at here. Anywhere around the camera lens on this side. But he plays safe, doesn’t he?! And you get nothing for safety in the Premier League.
On Bailey’s goal: “It was a brilliant run at the near-post by Pau Torres. He was up there because there was a corner just before beforehand. But he has made a cracking near-post run. If he doesn’t make that run, then that goal doesn’t occur. It was a lovely finish.”
Ian Wright on Watkins’ goal: “Watkins is in total control of the situation. He got a little deflection, but I think that’s beating the goalkeeper anyway.”
Europa Conference League and the top-four
There is still a lot to play for. Yes, the ball is now back in our court, but it wasn’t so long ago that Tottenham also had it.
Given how both teams have been dropping points, it wouldn’t be a surprise if there are more twists and turns in the race for the top four.
But Villa can only concentrate on themselves, trying to win the Europa Conference League and then doing the job against Bournemouth on Sunday.
What’s key here is that we will play two more league games – Bournemouth and Chelsea – before Tottenham are in action again.
That provides the team with a huge chance to put serious pressure on the board by going nine points clear of fifth-placed Spurs.
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