Premier League 2025/26: Aston Villa stuns Arsenal with last-gasp Buendia winner

Aston Villa ended Premier League leaders Arsenal’s long unbeaten run when Emiliano Buendia scored with virtually the last kick of the match to secure a 2-1 win that put his side into the thick of the title race at Villa Park on Saturday.

It looked like Leandro Trossard’s equalizer would extend Arsenal’s run without defeat to 19 games in all competitions, but a scintillating game was decided in dramatic fashion when Buendia fired home after a late scramble.

Matty Cash drove home a low shot to give Villa the lead in the 39th minute to reward his side’s adventure.

Arsenal responded after the break with Trossard equalizing from close range seven minutes after the restart after Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez deflected a ball into his path.

This was followed by a whirlwind of attacking play with both teams unwilling to settle for a point. But it was Villa who recorded a ninth win in their last 10 Premier League games, sparking wild celebrations from the home fans.

The win moved them into second place on 30 points from 15 games, with Arsenal on 33. Manchester City could cut Arsenal’s lead to two points if they beat Sunderland later on Saturday.

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No team in the top flight can match Unai Emery’s Villa in the last ten games and Arsenal’s defeat will set alarm bells ringing.

The 2023/24 season saw them beaten home and away by Villa as they fell two points short of Manchester City in a gripping title race.

“The way it ended up happening was very difficult to accept,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. “In the second half we were dominant after the goal, but there were periods when we left too much space.

«Then there is some chaos in the box at the end and we end up losing the match. It’s painful.»

Cristhian Mosquera’s injury in the midweek win over Brentford, which meant Arsenal went to Villa without him, Gabriel and William Saliba (the three centre-backs), left Arsenal with a vulnerability that has been absent this season.

Arsenal keeper David Raya made an excellent save to deny Ollie Watkins, while the tireless Declan Rice had to make some crucial interceptions for his side.

Eberechi Eze had a goal disallowed for offside for the visitor, but it was Villa who took the lead when a cross at the back post found Cash’s path and he showed no hesitation as he smashed a low shot past Raya.

Trossard has a habit of scoring big goals for Arsenal and he did so again as Saka’s cross was pushed into his path by Martinez and the Belgian would never miss.

For a time Arsenal seized control, but Villa roared back and produced a number of exciting counter-attacks, one of which caused Boubacar Kamara to take too long to shoot and another ended with Watkins again denied by Raya.

With the game swinging back and forth, Martinez finger-tipped a ferocious shot from Martin Odegaard over the crossbar before Saka’s goal-bound shot was blocked on the line.

Donyell Malen should have put Villa ahead again but dragged a shot wide and in stoppage time it was Arsenal who were chasing the winner until an astonishing goal opening at the other end saw Raya make two saves before the ball found itself at the feet of Buendia, who slotted a shot into the net.

Published on December 6, 2025