UNAI EMERY watched his Aston Villa side torpedo the title charge of his former club Arsenal with two late strikes.

Emery, sacked by the Gunners just 18 months after he had succeeded Arsene Wenger as manager, has masterminded a league double over Arsenal, which may ultimately cost them the Premier League title.

Leon Bailey netted the opening goal in the 84th minute

Ollie Watkins made sure of the result two minutes later

The result is a blow to Arsenal’s title hopes

Arsenal are now two points behind Manchester City

The Gunners blew their chance to replace Manchester City at top of the table as Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins fired Villa into a win which boosts their own hopes of Champions League qualification.

Arsenal had peppered Villa’s goal in the first half but Emery’s side dominated the second half.

Watkins fired against the inside of a post before half-time and Youri Tielemans struck the bar and the upright before a late one-two earned Villa a victory.

It was the first time Arsenal had dropped league points in 2024 and it was a Sunday to cherish for Pep Guardiola as City’s two title rivals were both beaten at home to leave the champions on course for a fourth successive crown.

Liverpool’s staggering home defeat by Crystal Palace had caused widespread joy among the home support before kick-off – but a little trepidation too.

More than ever, the title appeared to be Arsenal’s to lose. Would they revert to type and balls it all up?

Arteta went positive with his team selection, no Jorginho, with Kai Havertz in midfield behind Gabriel Jesus up top.

The hosts did most of the early attacking, Odegaard orchestrating, Saka tormenting, but Villa sat tight.

Emi Martinez pushed out a Havertz shot, Saka centred to the back stick, there Jesus headed wide and then Saka shot into the side-netting from a surgical Odegaard pass.

Alexander Zinchenko tried to lob Martinez from forty yards out, while Jesus, who had just impaled Pau Torres with a deft turn, had a shot blocked. Havertz was freed by Odegaard, but Diego Carlos had defrauded him.

As Arsenal attacked, Nicolo Zaniolo rolled around pretending to be hurt, and Zinchenko kicked the ball out, causing a commotion.

At the Emirates, things were growing tense. Emery posed agitatedly at the technical section. The former manager of Arsenal was given a lewd hand gesture by a middle-aged woman.

And then Villa came dangerously close to scoring. Zinchenko made a careless pass that let Ollie Watkins move forward and ping a shot against the inside of the post.

Stung, Arsenal counter-attacked, Jesus crossed long for Trossard, whose close range shot was saved by the Villa keeper’s foot.

“Emi Martinez, the world’s No 1,” sang the visiting fans but Trossard should have scored.

Saka curled one narrowly wide of the far post but the first half ended in frustration for the Gunners.

Just after the hour, Villa struck the woodwork for a second time – and, again, it looked for all the world as though they had scored.

Zinchenko, a weak link for Arsenal, was caught dawdling by the edge of the box and was robbed by Youri Tielemans, who let rip with a powerful curling effort which careered back off the underside of the crossbar and the foot of the post.

A Jesus shot was pushed out by Martinez but Villa were growing in confidence and getting on top.

Diego Carlos kicked Odegaard in the head after attempting an overhead kick. Emile Smith Rowe replaced the captain of Arsenal shortly after.

But Villa scored with six minutes remaining. Bailey was able to poke in at the far post after Lucas Digne’s low cross sidestepped Declan Rice, William Saliba, and Gabriel Marguelhes.

It became worse in a matter of minutes when Jorginho lost control and Tielemans made a sweeping pass that caught Arsenal off guard.

Despite having Smith Rowe as his covering defender, Watkins managed to hold him off and execute a brilliant finish to loft his shot past David Raya and into the far corner.