Mikel Arteta’s men suffered a blow in their Premier League title challenge as they were defeated by Aston Villa with a score of 0-2 at the Emirates. This loss came after a strong run of 31 points from a possible 33 in 2024. Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery led Villa to victory, derailing Arsenal’s charge towards the title.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice remarked on the competitive nature of the title race, citing the unpredictability of the Premier League. Despite Arsenal’s first-half superiority, they failed to capitalize on their chances, and Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey struck late to secure the win. This loss places Villa in a strong position for a Champions League spot.

In a separate match, Liverpool also stumbled, suffering a shocking 0-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. The result marks Liverpool’s third win in their last eight games across all competitions. Manager Jurgen Klopp expressed concerns about their performance and its implications on their title aspirations.

On the other hand, Manchester City emerged as the big winners of the day, maintaining a two-point lead at the top of the table with six games remaining. City’s dominance puts them in a favorable position to secure their fourth consecutive English top-flight title. West Ham’s hopes for European competition suffered a setback as they were defeated 2-0 at home by Fulham, who climbed to 12th place in the league standings.