Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal: Trezeguet's strike gives Dean Smith's side hope of Premier League survival

by · Sporting Life

Aston Villa grabbed a priceless Premier League survival lifeline, beating Arsenal to climb out of the drop zone with one match to play.

Trezeguet netted a crucial winner to clinch a 1-0 victory which lifts Villa out of the relegation zone for the first time since February.

The winger set up a dramatic finale on Sunday with Villa, Watford and Bournemouth locked in a three-way battle against the drop.

Dean Smith’s side are now above of the bottom three on goal difference ahead of Sunday’s trip to West Ham, who are out of danger thanks to their own superior goal difference.

For Arsenal, they will need to rely on an FA Cup win next month to return to Europe and could finish as low as 10th in the Premier League.




The Gunners hit the post through Eddie Nketiah but never found the form which saw them beat Liverpool and Manchester City in their previous games.

Dion Dublin scored twice the last time Villa beat Arsenal at home in 1998, with the team including England boss Gareth Southgate and an 18-year-old Gareth Barry.

Steps’ cover of Tragedy was number one in the charts – but if Villa escape relegation on the final day there will be a happy ending.

Back then Arsenal were champions but the title feels a long way away for the Gunners despite the promising early signs of Mikel Arteta’s debut season.

A plane towing the message ‘Back Arteta Kroenke Out’ served as a reminder of the anger felt by fans with the Gunners facing a fourth season outside the Champions League, having not won the title in 16 years.


Match videos

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Wednesday's betting tips


Reaction

  • Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
  • Dean Smith (Aston Villa)

Opta facts

  • Aston Villa have beaten Arsenal at Villa Park in a Premier League game for the first time since December 1998 under John Gregory, ending a run of 17 home games without a win against the Gunners.
  • Arsenal have lost four of their six away Premier League matches since the restart (W2), one more than in their first 13 away matches of the 2019/20 season.
  • Aston Villa will end the day outside of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since 28 February.
  • Arsenal have lost 10 league matches for a third consecutive season for the first time since a run of seven between 1981/82 and 1987/88.
  • Aston Villa’s Trézéguet has scored three Premier League goals in his last three games, as many as in his first 30 games in the competition.
  • 46% (21 of 46) of the goals Arsenal have conceded in the Premier League have come via set pieces, the highest percentage in the league.
  • This was the first time Aston Villa haven’t faced a shot on target in a Premier League match since West Bromwich Albion failed to have one against the Villans back in January 2016.

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