Arsenal’s 2023/24 Premier League title bid took a wild tumble after a shocking home defeat to Aston Villa in Premier League matchday 32 clash.
Manchester City were the only team in the three-horse Premier League title race to have aced through matchday 32 with all three points after victory over Luton Town. Liverpool suffered a shock home defeat to Crystal Palace. Arsenal endured a similar fate against Aston Villa at the Emirates.
Facing their former manager, Unai Emery, on his return to the Emirates for the first time since 2019 when he was sacked, the Gunners failed to make their dominance count as they stumbled to a 2-0 defeat in front of their home fans.
The first half ended goalless, and it nearly went the same way in the second half before a late quick double, three minutes apart, made the difference.
Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins struck in the 84th and 87th minute in quick succession to hand the Villains victory and derail the Gunners’ bid for the Premier League title.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta seemed prepared for such lapses in the Gunners’ chase for their first Premier League title in two decades.
Speaking after the game, the Spaniard charged his Arsenal players to wave aside the loss and look ahead for the next crucial tie against Bayern Munich.
According to him, it is not the result that matters but how you react when down. The former Manchester City assistant boss charged the team to show reaction as they prepare to take on Bayern Munich in a crunch Champions League quarterfinal second leg in Germany.
“We have the best opportunity to react against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The team has to show it. If you want to win, you have to overcome these situations,’ said Arteta, who said captain Martin Odegaard was substituted with a ‘leg’ injury.
‘With the games we had, this was going to happen. It is now about how we react. This is in our control.
“We knew this moment could come, it’s time to react and believe. We have to stand up, and make yourself count with leadership and character – we don’t have any other option. Now is a big test for us.”
Arsenal missed a chance to go top of the Premier League table with the loss to Aston Villa but are still strongly in the title race.
They are second on the table with 71 points, two points adrift of Manchester City at the top.
The Gunners play Bayern Munich in the return leg of the 2023/24 Champions League quarterfinals in their next fixture on Wednesday, April 17 in Munich before a trip to Molineux Stadium to take on Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday, April 20.
