How Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes were dented by Aston Villa’s late show

Elsewhere on the continent, Bayer Leverkusen became the first team to be crowned champions of a major European league.

A 5-0 home win against Werder Bremen confirmed their first ever Bundesliga title, ending a run of 11 consecutive Bayern Munich triumphs.

There is an Arsenal angle to it too as former midfielder Granit Xhaka scored the second goal for Xabi Alonso's side earlier on.

The Athletic's Raphael Honigstein wrote a superb piece looking at their era-defining campaign — make sure to check it out below.

A performance like Aston Villa's for any of the golfers in contention at the Masters would put them right in the hunt for the green jacket.

And the leaders are out on the course at Augusta for the final round of the 2024 iteration of golf's most prestigious major.

Will Scottie Scheffler stay out in front or will the likes of Collin Morikawa and Max Homa manage to upset the pre-tournament favourite?

You can find out by following The Athletic's live coverage of Masters Sunday by clicking here.

Emery drew on his side's recent 4-1 defeat away to Manchester City as the basis for today's victory.

"We deeply analyse every match. We played against Manchester City 10 days ago and we lost 4-1 and we were trying to understand what we did good, but we needed to be one step ahead to do better," he told Sky Sports.

"Today was the example, we used this match to improve and learn. Firstly, it was defence. We defended strongly. We had to be compact and that was the first idea that we had in our gameplan today.

"And then we tried to get time with the ball, to keep the ball, avoid their press and we did. Progressively, we imposed ourselves in the second half."

Unai Emery won't have been much happier after a league game than he was at full time today after a huge victory.

"Before the match, we were very motivated and every excited about the possibility to get three points," he told Sky Sports. "In this scenario, it was very difficult and a very tough match. We needed to be focused and we were strong and committed defensively.

"It was about being consistent for 90 minutes and waiting for our moment to control the game like we did. The first half was more difficult but we tried to keep possession and dominate the ball.

"We were imposing in the second half and we competed very well, like usual. Today, we were fantastic."

Declan Rice echoed the sentiments of his manager when he spoke after the match.

"It's tough, really tough to take," he told Sky Sports. "Especially with the chances we had in the first half and what we created in the space there was. We had to take one of them and we didn't.

"In the Premier League, every game is tough and teams come back to hurt you and that's what Villa did in the second half."

Arteta then paid credit to Aston Villa.

"Credit to them," he said. "We had a lot (of momentum) in the first half. We weren't precise with the ball, there were no sequences in the right areas and we struggled to get the ball in the areas we had it in the first half.

"You have to congratulate your opponent. When you're at this level, you have to punish them. We haven't done that."

Arteta was asked what he thought of his side's showing.

"Two very different (performances)," he told Sky Sports. "First half, (we were) superb and one of the best halves we have played against one of the top teams. It should have three of four (nil).

"In the second half, we lacked momentum, we didn't have the flow that we have in the first half. And then we conceded two very, very poor goals."

I mentioned that Watkins' goal was his 19th of the season in the Premier League.

Not only has it moved him one goal behind Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot, it also means no Aston Villa player has scored more in a single Premier League campaign.

The 28-year-old has drawn level with Christian Benteke's tally from the 2012-13 campaign.

One more goal and Watkins will move out on his own in that regard.

"Any win is a big result but considering the other results, we're fighting for the Champions League," Watkins continued. "We knew it was going to be tough coming away to Arsenal, but we've shown what a good side we are.

"A lot of people doubted us, so we've proved a few people wrong."

Martinez came back to haunt his former club with a brilliant performance between the posts for the visitors.

"We knew that we needed a big away win for our Champions League hopes so this is the first step," he told Sky Sports. "We've got five finals left, but we need to enjoy this one and go on Thursday to qualify for for the (Europa Conference League) semi-final."

A 19th Premier League goal of the season from Watkins sealed the victory for Villa in the 87th minute.

"To come away to Arsenal when they're playing such good football and play like that just shows how far we've come and where we're going," he told Sky Sports. "It was a perfect away performance."

Aston Villa might be wise to looking into a relocation to London!

That win means they are unbeaten in their last 10 trips to the capital. Even more impressive is the fact that they won seven of those games.

Oh, and it is just their third double over Arsenal in the Premier League era.

I imagine the travelling Villa supporters will be seeking out a pub or two before heading back to Birmingham.

To come to the home of the Premier League's most in-form team and play like that is staggering.

Villa took their medicine in the first half and defended supremely.

In the second, they enjoyed the fruits of that first-half labour and played Arsenal off the park. And they got what they deserved: two great goals worthy of winning any game.

The focus will be on Arsenal's title hopes, but that result has done wonders to Villa's hopes of a long-awaited return to the Champions League.

The away end euphoric as Villa deliver an outstanding display under huge pressure.

Both goals richly deserved and a reward for the game-plan, effort and quality showed.

If you want to qualify for the Champions League, this is how you do it.