In a stunning climax at Villa Park, Aston Villa delivered a seismic blow to the Premier League title race, with Emiliano Buendia scoring a dramatic winner in the 94th minute to defeat league leaders Arsenal 2-1 on Saturday, December 6, 2025. The result brutally halted Arsenal's impressive 18-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.
Villa Park Erupts in Late Drama
The match was a thrilling, end-to-end encounter that lived up to its billing as a top-of-the-table clash. Aston Villa, displaying fearless attacking intent, took a deserved lead in the 39th minute. A cross found its way to Matty Cash at the back post, and the defender smashed a low shot past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to send the home fans into raptures.
Arsenal, showing the resilience that has defined their season, fought back after the break. Seven minutes into the second half, substitute Leandro Trossard pounced on a loose ball from close range to equalise, notching his 50th Premier League goal. For a long period, it seemed that goal would preserve Arsenal's long unbeaten run, extending it to 19 matches.
A Chaotic Finale Seals Arsenal's Fate
The final stages were a whirlwind of attacking football, with both teams refusing to settle for a draw. Arsenal's David Raya made a superb save to deny Ollie Watkins, while at the other end, Villa's Emiliano Martinez fingertipped a ferocious Martin Odegaard drive over the bar. Bukayo Saka also saw a goal-bound shot heroically blocked on the line.
Just as Arsenal pressed for a late winner themselves, the game turned in astonishing fashion during stoppage time. A Villa counter-attack led to a chaotic goalmouth scramble. David Raya made two incredible point-blank saves, but the ball eventually fell to Argentine midfielder Emiliano Buendia, who lofted a shot through a crowd of defenders and into the net, sparking delirious celebrations at Villa Park.
Title Race Implications and Manager Reactions
The victory, Villa's ninth in their last ten Premier League matches, propelled them into second place with 30 points from 15 games. Arsenal remain top with 33 points, but their lead over Manchester City could be cut to just two points depending on City's result. The defeat was a painful echo of the 2023-24 season for Mikel Arteta, where his former mentor Unai Emery also masterminded two Villa wins over Arsenal.
"Incredible, the feeling to score that goal and help the team get the win, an important win against the table leaders," said match-winner Buendia, who was nearly sold in the summer. "It shows the character of the team."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left to rue the chaotic finish. "The manner that it happened at the end it was really difficult to take," he admitted. "Then at the end there is some chaos in the box and we end up losing the game. It's painful." The loss was exacerbated by Arsenal's defensive injury crisis, missing all three of their first-choice centre-backs.
For Unai Emery's Aston Villa, this statement victory confirms their status as genuine title contenders. No team in the Premier League has collected more points over the last ten games, and their stunning win over the leaders has well and truly announced their arrival at the summit of English football.
