Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday, 06 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Aston Villa grabbed a thrilling 2-1 win over Arsenal at Villa Park, holding on for all three points in a tense encounter. The hosts took the lead in the 36th minute when Matty Cash fired them ahead, capping off a strong first half where Villa looked sharp on the counter despite Arsenal edging possession. Coming into this on the back of four straight league wins, including a 4-3 thriller at Brighton, Villa’s momentum showed as they absorbed pressure well before the break.

Arsenal fought back early in the second half, with Leandro Trossard equalising in the 52nd minute to make it 1-1, but Villa’s late substitutions injected fresh energy. The game seemed headed for a draw until Emiliano Buendía popped up with a dramatic winner in the 90+5th minute, assisted by Boubacar Kamara, sealing the victory in stoppage time. This result extends Villa’s impressive run while halting Arsenal’s push after their recent mixed bag, including a win over Brentford but draws against Chelsea and Sunderland.

The game was evenly matched in many ways, with Arsenal shading possession at 53% to Villa’s 47%, suggesting the visitors controlled more of the ball but couldn’t turn it into clear dominance. Both sides managed three corners each and were level on successful dribbles, pointing to a balanced battle where neither team truly overpowered the other in creating chances. Villa edged it in assists with one recorded, while Arsenal picked up two yellow cards, which might have disrupted their rhythm without leading to any reds or further drama.

Substitutions played a big role too, with both teams using all five available – for Villa, Donyell Malen replaced Ollie Watkins at 66’, Jadon Sancho came on for John McGinn and Lamare Bogarde for Amadou Onana both at 75’, Victor Lindelöf for Pau Torres at 86’, and Emiliano Buendía for Matty Cash at 87’; Arsenal made changes like Viktor Gyökeres for Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard for Eberechi Eze at 46’, Noni Madueke for Bukayo Saka at 79’, and then Myles Lewis-Skelly for Riccardo Calafiori plus Gabriel Martinelli for Leandro Trossard both at 86’. No penalties were taken, and while there were no injury-time goals beyond Villa’s late strike, the cards for Arsenal – yellows to Riccardo Calafiori at 72’ and Bukayo Saka at 74’ – added to the tension without shifting the overall flow.

The match turned on a few crucial goals, starting with Matty Cash’s opener for Aston Villa in the 36th minute, which gave the hosts a deserved lead after a lively first half. Arsenal responded well after the break, levelling through Leandro Trossard in the 52nd minute, but Villa’s bench made a difference with key changes like Donyell Malen coming on for Ollie Watkins at 66’ to keep the attack fresh. Discipline became an issue for Arsenal, with yellow cards to Riccardo Calafiori in the 72nd minute and Bukayo Saka two minutes later, potentially hampering their push.

The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time when Emiliano Buendía, who had replaced Matty Cash at 87’, scored Villa’s winner in the 90+5th minute with an assist from Boubacar Kamara, snatching all three points. Arsenal’s double substitution at half-time, with Viktor Gyökeres replacing Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard for Eberechi Eze, brought energy, but later swaps like Noni Madueke for Bukayo Saka at 79’ and then Myles Lewis-Skelly for Riccardo Calafiori plus Gabriel Martinelli for Leandro Trossard at 86’ couldn’t prevent the late heartbreak.

Aston Villa lined up in a solid 4-2-3-1 shape, with players like Matty Cash pushing forward effectively from the right and Boubacar Kamara providing midfield stability to support the attack. Standout partnerships included the link-up that led to Emiliano Buendía’s late goal, while substitutions like Jadon Sancho replacing John McGinn and Lamare Bogarde for Amadou Onana at 75’ helped maintain control. The setup allowed for quick counters, with Ollie Watkins leading the line until Donyell Malen took over at 66’, and defensive tweaks like Victor Lindelöf for Pau Torres at 86’ shored things up.

Arsenal set out in their usual 4-3-3 formation, relying on width from players like Bukayo Saka on the flanks and Leandro Trossard making an impact after replacing Eberechi Eze at 46’ to grab the equaliser. Key roles saw Riccardo Calafiori in defence until Myles Lewis-Skelly came on for him at 86’, while the midfield partnership involving Mikel Merino was adjusted when Viktor Gyökeres replaced him at half-time. The attacking trio looked threatening, with Noni Madueke stepping in for Bukayo Saka at 79’ and Gabriel Martinelli for Leandro Trossard at 86’, but it wasn’t enough to break down Villa’s resolve.

Coral’s Man of the Match goes to Matty Cash, who shone for Aston Villa with his goal in the 36th minute that set the tone for the hosts. He didn’t rack up assists or big chances created, but his one key pass highlighted his involvement in building play from the back. Even though he was replaced by Emiliano Buendía at 87’, Cash’s all-round display, blending defensive work with that vital strike, made him stand out in a tight contest.

Recent Premier League matches:

• Win: 2-1 vs Arsenal (H)
• Win: 4-3 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Leeds United (A)
• Win: 4-0 vs AFC Bournemouth (H)

Recent Premier League matches:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Aston Villa (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Brentford (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Chelsea (A)
• Win: 4-1 vs Tottenham Hotspur (H)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Sunderland (A)

Aston Villa have just secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Arsenal, keeping their strong run going with five straight league victories that have them sitting third on 30 points and chasing the top spots. That momentum from results like the 1-0 over Wolves and 4-0 thrashing of Bournemouth will be key as they look to build on this. Next up, they face Basel on 2025-12-11 at 20:00, where a positive result could help solidify their position in the European places, though details on Basel’s current standing are still to be confirmed.

Arsenal have just suffered a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, a setback after leading the table on 33 points with a form guide showing wins like 2-0 over Brentford and 4-1 against Tottenham, but also draws with Chelsea and Sunderland. This loss might dent their confidence at the summit, making the upcoming game a chance to bounce back quickly. They host Club Brugge on 2025-12-10 at 20:00, where maintaining their top position will be at stake, with Brugge’s league details yet to be confirmed.

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