Premier League Regular Season - 15
Aston Villa 2 - 1 FT Arsenal
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
36' M. Cash
HT
↓ M. Merino ↑V. Gyokeres 46'
↓ E. Eze ↑L. Trossard 46'
L. Trossard 52'
66' ↓ O. Watkins ↑D. Malen
R. Calafiori 72'
B. Saka 74'
75' ↓ J. McGinn ↑J. Sancho
75' ↓ A. Onana ↑L. Bogarde
↓ B. Saka ↑N. Madueke 79'
↓ L. Trossard ↑G. Martinelli 86'
↓ R. Calafiori ↑M. Lewis-Skelly 86'
87' ↓ P. Torres ↑V. Lindelof
87' ↓ M. Cash ↑E. Buendia
90'+5 E. Buendia (B. Kamara)
FT
Player Cards
Season performance ratings for players in this match
Aston Villa
Goalkeepers
Emiliano Martínez 
PROVOCATEUR
1
fouls won
1
fouls won
1
Duels Won
0
pens won
Defenders
Matty Cash 
SNIPER
100%
conversion
100%
conversion
1
goals
1
shots
Ezri Konsa 
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
95
total mins
Started
entry
Pau Torres 
NPC
86
minutes
86
minutes
39%
pass acc
6.6
rating
Ian Maatsen
PROVOCATEUR
2
fouls won
2
fouls won
5
Duels Won
0
pens won
Midfielders
Boubacar Kamara 
PROVIDER
1
assists
1
assists
1
key passes
7.6
rating
Amadou Onana
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
75
total mins
75
entry
John McGinn
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
75
total mins
75
entry
Youri Tielemans
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
95
total mins
Started
entry
Morgan Rogers
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
95
total mins
Started
entry
Forwards
Ollie Watkins 
DRIBBLER
3
dribbles
3
dribbles
3
attempts
100%
success %
BENCH
Marco Bizot 
SPECTATOR
0
saves
0
saves
0
conceded
0
minutes
Victor Lindelöf
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
9
total mins
Started
entry
Lucas Digne
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
0
total mins
Started
entry
Andrés García
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
0
total mins
Started
entry
Lamare Bogarde
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
20
total mins
Started
entry
Emiliano Buendía 
CLUTCH HERO
0
goal time
0
goal time
0
impact
7
rating
George Hemmings
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
0
total mins
Started
entry
Donyell Malen
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
29
total mins
Started
entry
Jadon Sancho
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
20
total mins
Started
entry
Arsenal
Goalkeepers
David Raya
PROVOCATEUR
1
fouls won
1
fouls won
1
Duels Won
0
pens won
Defenders
Ben White 
WALL
0
dribbled past
0
dribbled past
3
tackles
71%
duel win %
Jurriën Timber 
SWEEPER
4
cleanups
4
cleanups
2
interceptions
2
blocks
Piero Hincapié
SWEEPER
3
cleanups
3
cleanups
1
interceptions
2
blocks
Riccardo Calafiori
WALL
0
dribbled past
0
dribbled past
3
tackles
86%
duel win %
Midfielders
Martin Ødegaard 
ARCHITECT
3
key passes
3
key passes
0
assists
57%
pass acc
Martín Zubimendi
SWEEPER
3
cleanups
3
cleanups
3
interceptions
0
blocks
Declan Rice
SWEEPER
4
cleanups
4
cleanups
2
interceptions
2
blocks
Forwards
Bukayo Saka
ARCHITECT
4
key passes
4
key passes
0
assists
28%
pass acc
Mikel Merino
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
45
total mins
46
entry
Eberechi Eze
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
45
total mins
46
entry
BENCH
Kepa Arrizabalaga
SPECTATOR
0
saves
0
saves
0
conceded
0
minutes
Myles Lewis-Skelly
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
9
total mins
Started
entry
Marli Salmon
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
0
total mins
Started
entry
Christian Nørgaard
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
0
total mins
Started
entry
Ethan Nwaneri
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
0
total mins
Started
entry
Viktor Gyökeres
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
50
total mins
Started
entry
Leandro Trossard 
SUPER SUB
0
impact
0
impact
41
minutes
7.9
rating
Noni Madueke
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
16
total mins
Started
entry
Gabriel Martinelli
LATE SHIFT
15
late mins
15
late mins
9
total mins
Started
entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/12/2025 | Aston Villa | 2 - 1 | Arsenal | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 18/01/2025 | Arsenal | 2 - 2 | Aston Villa | Premier League | Emirates Stadium |
| 24/08/2024 | Aston Villa | 0 - 2 | Arsenal | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 14/04/2024 | Arsenal | 0 - 2 | Aston Villa | Premier League | Emirates Stadium |
| 09/12/2023 | Aston Villa | 1 - 0 | Arsenal | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 18/02/2023 | Aston Villa | 2 - 4 | Arsenal | Premier League | Villa Park |
06/12/2025
18/01/2025
24/08/2024
14/04/2024
09/12/2023
18/02/2023
Aston Villa Win
Arsenal Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 15 GD: +19
P: 15 GD: +19
P: 15 GD: +7
P: 15 GD: +8
P: 15 GD: +10
P: 15 GD: +4
P: 15 GD: +1
P: 15 GD: +4
P: 15 GD: +1
P: 15 GD: 0
P: 15 GD: +7
P: 15 GD: +2
P: 15 GD: -3
P: 15 GD: -3
P: 15 GD: -4
P: 15 GD: -10
P: 15 GD: -11
P: 15 GD: -12
P: 15 GD: -14
League Standings
P: 24 GD: +29
P: 24 GD: +26
P: 24 GD: +9
P: 24 GD: +8
P: 24 GD: +15
P: 24 GD: +6
P: 24 GD: +4
P: 24 GD: -1
P: 24 GD: -1
P: 24 GD: 0
P: 23 GD: -2
P: 24 GD: -3
P: 24 GD: +2
P: 24 GD: +2
P: 24 GD: -4
P: 24 GD: -11
P: 24 GD: -11
P: 24 GD: -19
P: 23 GD: -19
AI-powered match analysis and previews to help you decide which games are worth watching
Buendia's Stoppage-Time Dagger Ends Six-Pointer Thriller
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 90/100. When the title race hinges on a single point, this is the match that reshapes the Premier League landscape—Villa's late upset over Arsenal proves the top two remain locked in a genuine battle.
From Draw to Devastation in Five Minutes
Aston Villa turned a 1-1 stalemate into a title-defining victory when E. Buendia struck in the 95th minute, assisted by B. Kamara. The intensity of this contest never wavered—three lead changes and a combined 27 shots created a shooting gallery that tested both defenses relentlessly. Emiliano Martínez made seven saves to keep Villa in the hunt, while M. Cash had opened the scoring in the 36th minute. Arsenal's L. Trossard, introduced at halftime, equalized in the 52nd minute to level the stakes.
Substitute Impact Decides the Balance
The match's turning point came from the bench. Trossard's introduction shifted Arsenal's attacking balance, but Villa's late substitutions proved decisive. Buendia's entrance in the 87th minute—just eight minutes before his match-winning intervention—exemplified how tactical switches can alter title races. Arsenal dominated possession (53%) and shot volume (15 attempts), yet Villa's clinical finishing and goalkeeper heroics proved decisive. The lead changed hands three times across 95 minutes, with neither team able to establish control despite intensity that rarely dipped below maximum.
What This Means for the Title Race
Arsenal's loss cuts their lead over Villa from three points to one, with Villa now on an exceptional five-game winning streak. The upset factor looms large—Villa were underdogs with a 28% probability gap, yet emerged victorious through composure under pressure. This wasn't a fluke; it was a statement that Arsenal's title credentials face a genuine challenger. Both teams created chances (Arsenal's 1.91 xG vs Villa's 1.49), but Villa converted theirs when it mattered most.
Key Questions
How dramatic was Buendia's 90th-minute winner?
Buendia struck in the 95th minute—five minutes into stoppage time—to break a 1-1 deadlock and snatch victory from a 1-1 draw, the ultimate gut-punch for Arsenal.
What does this mean for Aston Villa's season?
Villa close the gap to one point while extending their winning streak to five games—they're now genuine title contenders, not pretenders.
How did substitutes change the game?
Trossard equalized for Arsenal; Buendia won it for Villa. Both bench players scored, proving tactical switches decided this six-pointer.
How is the Futmetrix Score calculated?
The Futmetrix Score (0-100) combines multiple factors: match intensity, competitive balance, stakes importance, and entertainment value to help you decide if this match is worth watching.
Arsenal's Unbeaten Run Meets Villa's Midfield Awakening
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 96/100. Arsenal's title credentials face their sternest test yet against a Villa side finding dangerous form at the right moment.
The Setup
Arsenal arrive at Villa Park as the Premier League's defining force—nine wins from twelve, a goal difference that reads like a cheat code (+18), and a Form streak that refuses to break. Yet Aston Villa are no longer the soft touch. Their Form reads WWLWW, and crucially, their midfield has awakened. Emiliano Buendía (2 goals, 1 assist in four matches) and Amadou Onana (7.6 rating over the same run) have transformed Villa's control in transition. Meanwhile, Arsenal's attacking depth—anchored by Eberechi Eze's four-goal rampage and Leandro Trossard's clinical finishing—suggests this won't be a coronation. The Stakes are significant: Arsenal consolidate their grip on first; Villa prove their top-four credentials are genuine.
Key Battle
Declan Rice versus Onana will determine midfield rhythm. Rice's positioning and range-passing have been Arsenal's foundation, but Onana's physicality and recent form make him a genuine disruptor. Whoever controls the tempo—Arsenal's methodical build or Villa's direct counter—shapes the entire match.
Our Prediction
Arsenal edge this 2-1. They absorb Villa's early pressure through William Saliba's defensive dominance, then strike via Eze's pace in transition. Villa claw back through Buendía's creativity, but Arsenal's experience in these moments proves decisive. A proper contest, not a procession.
Key Questions
Should I watch this match?
Yes. This is a genuine test of Arsenal's title credentials against a Villa side finding dangerous midfield form. The Balance between Arsenal's dominance and Villa's attacking spark makes this competitive despite the table gap.
What's the predicted outcome?
Arsenal enter as clear favorites given their nine-win run and goal difference of +18, but Villa's midfield awakening and attacking options make this far more competitive than the table suggests. Expect a tight contest where Arsenal's experience edges a close result.
Where are Aston Villa and Arsenal in the league table?
Arsenal sit first with 29 points from 12 matches (9W-2D-1L). Aston Villa are fifth with 21 points from 12 matches (6W-3D-3L), eight points adrift of the leaders. This gap reflects Arsenal's consistency, though Villa's recent form narrows the perceived distance.
What is Aston Villa's current form?
Villa's recent form reads WWLWW—three wins in their last five matches. This resurgence, driven by Buendía's creativity and Onana's midfield control, marks a significant uptick from earlier in the season and positions them as genuine contenders in this fixture.
Who is the in-form player to watch?
Eberechi Eze (Arsenal) is the standout threat. He has scored 4 goals in 5 matches with an average rating of 7.7, making him Arsenal's sharpest attacking outlet. His pace and finishing will be central to how Arsenal break Villa's defensive shape.
How is the Futmetrix Score calculated?
The Futmetrix Score (0-100) combines multiple factors: match intensity, competitive balance, stakes importance, and entertainment value to help you decide if this match is worth watching.