Premier League: Villa stun Arsenal as hosts falter in title race

And Mikel Arteta...

Listen to what Aston Villa boss Unai Emery had to say...

Away wins all round, then. Have a read of all the reports from a dramatic day of Premier League action here:

• Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
• West Ham 0-2 Fulham
• Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa

Here are the matches the top three sides have left to play:

Manchester City

• Brighton & Hove Albion (a)
• Nottingham Forest (a)
• Wolves (h)
• Fulham (a)
• Tottenham (a)
• West Ham (h)

Arsenal

• Wolves (a)
• Chelsea (h)
• Tottenham (a)
• Bournemouth (h)
• Manchester United (a)
• Everton (h)

Liverpool

• Fulham (a)
• Everton (a)
• West Ham (a)
• Tottenham (h)
• Aston Villa (a)
• Wolves (h)

It has been a difficult week for both Liverpool and Arsenal with tough matches in Europe and home defeats today in the Premier League.

The Gunners travel to Germany on Wednesday knowing they must beat Bayern Munich to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League while Liverpool have got it all to do in Italy on Thursday after that 3-0 defeat by Atalanta.

They have handed momentum to Manchester City in the league. At the pressure point in the season, it could be make or break for both teams.

How will they react?

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

More from Aston Villa boss Unai Emery speaking to Sky Sports:

On coming back to Arsenal: "It's not for me, it's for Aston Villa. Now we have 63 and we are closer to being in the top five. That is the only thought I had before the match.

"It was tough because Arsenal are having an incredible season. I've very proud of our work and the focus of the players, being demanding of themselves."

On Champions League qualification:"Yes [it feels like a big step]. But today was the same three points we were playing for last weekend against Brentford when we were 2-0 up and drew.

"It's the same three points we'll play for next Saturday. If we are not consistent then we can lose. This is the level we want to be at."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to BBC's Match of the Day: "We're obviously very disappointed with the result, especially with the way we have been performing. The first half was one of the best halves we have played this season against a top team. We should've scored three, four, five, we haven't scored. In the second half, the game changes, we struggle to gain momentum, we struggle to get the ball into certain areas and we were very sloppy with the ball and the game was there with not much happening. A few corners for them and then we concede a very poor goal and then, on top of that, we were chasing it and then we concede another one and it was a painful loss.

"I think we played much better than we did against Brighton in the first half. Much better. I think we should've scored three, four, five goals in the first half and that would've been a very different game. That's not the case and we have to accept that and we have to praise the opponent, they beat us and we have to move. It is about reacting now.

"For sure, because we had the momentum and we were the better team on the pitch but you have to play for 96/98 minutes and we haven't managed to maintain that level in the second half and that is down to us and we have to improve.

On Ollie Watkins saying he could sense Arsenal getting tired: "That's him saying that. No.

Do Arsenal have to win every game now?: "We all know that, the impact is now. How you react to that, there was always going to be a bump in the road. We won 10, drew one. Unbelievable, everybody is on board. Win, win, win win, win, win, win, win - everybody is happy. Very easy to maintain momentum and be on top of that. It is now after that defeat, how you show you character and your leadership and going to Munich, we have a beautiful opportunity to do that."

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins to BBC Match of the Day: "I felt like we grew into the game a lot. The longer Arsenal didn't create much, we could see from their body language that they were getting tired and definitely getting frustrated and I think we used that as momentum and motivation really. We grew into the game and we played some really good football. We didn't go long too much, the boss demanded that we played out and were brave. If we lost the ball and they scored from it, so be it, but that's the game plan and it worked today. We frustrated them and in both boxes, we were really good.

"When I saw Youri's hit the bar and the post, I thought 'ah no, it's not going to be our day is it?' I was always calm that we were going to get something. We were frustrating them, we were creating lots of chances and we could see that they were getting tired and we kept plugging away and we stuck at it. I'm delighted with that, it's a massive win. A lot of people doubted us or definitely favoured Arsenal coming into this game. We've been playing well and been a bit lackadaisical and lost concentration, so today, we showed we're a really strong team and we're fighting for the Champions League.

"Every day, the boss is really demanding. Whether we win or lose, it's back to the training field and work on what we need to do to perform on the pitch. That's one thing we're all very clear on is the game plan. When we're going in, we have long meetings. We had three meetings today, which is tiring but it's clear when you go on the pitch, what you need to do and what is going to happen.

"I think it was from a corner. I could see that they were all pushing up on the edge of the box and I was kind of not goal-hanging but waiting for that ball to come and I thought maybe I had lost the chance a little bit when Smith Rowe was running through, but as the keeper came out, he made my mind up and there was only one finish there to dink it over him. I think it shows how far I have come. I think going back, I probably wouldn't have scored that but I'm definitely very composed in those situations now and I back myself in those scenarios at the end of the day.

"I think it is what it's about. As a striker, you want to score as many goals as possible. I'm not going to lie, I'm chasing that, I'm doing all that I can to help the team to win and for me to score as many goals and assists to my teammates as possible. I definitely have my eyes on the golden boot. I'm not going to lie to you.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice to BBC's Match of the Day: "It's very disappointing. It's gutting, to be honest with you because of the chances we had in the first half to kill the game off. Even though they hit the post at the end, we could've had two or three before that. When you don't take your chances against teams like Villa who have got quality, it can come back to haunt you in the second half and it did.

"It is the Premier League. It is why you need to stay focused for 100 minutes. The spaces we had in the first half weren't there in the second half, they were taking their time with everything and really frustrating us, of course. In the end, they've scored two goals and completely killed us off. It is one of them days. It happens in football. It is about rolling our socks up and going again.

"I didn't know they got beat. My phone was off before the game, I didn't check the scores or speak to anyone because we can only control what we can do. I don't worry about the other teams. Obviously we didn't control that today which is obviously annoying but we've played last before and it's not been a problem so I don't think any of that really matters to be honest. I think it's just down to us, we can't put it down to that. I think us as players, we need to look at ourselves and see why we didn't win the game and why we switched off for two or three minutes, which has killed us. It's disappointing, but now there is the chance for a big reaction on Wednesday night and then away at Wolves. We're going to need to be right at it."

Opta's title predictor is now up to 70% in favour of Manchester City winning the Premier League.

Arsenal have an 18% chance of winning it and Liverpool a 12% chance.

Apparently.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to BBC's Match of the Day: "100%. Very proud of the players, how faced them being very competitive. Being also struggling at times but waiting our moment and progressively, we were dominating the match. But of course, beating Arsenal here is very difficult and we needed to play and be focused 100% and being very demanding in everything and more organised defensively, we needed the biggest commitment to do better than we did against Manchester City, that was the sample we used for this match and then, tried to face them playing in this level because this is the level I want to get to with our players and progressively, we are getting better. Of course in 90 minutes, we struggled, maybe if they scored one goal the match would be different but we defended very well, we were very competitive in the first half. In the first half, there was more defending and in the second half, we were more competitive with the ball, tried to keep possession and tried to impose our position on the pitch.

"Football is to play with the ball. Without the ball, we tried to get good posititoning, we tried to stop the opponent, we tried to win. We tried to play and then tried to play with our skills. Of course, we did everything in those ways I think very well.

"90 minutes is for everything. The first half, we were being consistent, we weren't doing bad defensively. We were trying to dominate with the ball, keep the possesion tight to avoid players. We didn't do very well, but we were tired but we even got one chance with Ollie Watkins hitting the post. In the second half, we were planning the same but we did better than in the first. We were imposing, but we had more chances and hit the post but then we had two very good goals and we didn't concede a lot then and this is the mentality. The mentality is true and every player is responding on the pitch.

"It is 38 matches, today we played number 33. Today, something is more difficult with some things, but we had to always try to learn and try to improve, try to get to our highest level individually and collectively. Today is a very good example, but we now, we need to keep going, move on positively and now, try to avoid circumstances like how last week, against Brentford at home. But this is the Premier League, the most difficult league in the world."

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's tough, really tough to take.

"Especially with the chances we had in the first half, the spaces there was. We had to take one of them because in the Premier League, teams will come back to bite you and hurt you.

"That's what Villa did in the second half."

"We've been so dominant in games but Villa have got some unbelievable players, technically unreal and Ollie up front is a constant goal threat.

"If you can't win games of football, don't lose. Look up at the clock with 15 to go and it's 0-0, if you aren't going to win then you take a point, especially in these situations.

"So to lose is a real kick in the teeth."

On need to win: "This is Arsenal, you feel the pressure that you have to win these matches. We put the pressure on ourselves. We knew coming in that we wanted nothing but three points.

"We didn't get that which is disappointing but it's time for a reaction, starting on Wednesday night."

On the reaction: "No one would have predicted our run since January. It's come to an end today. You need to reset and reset.

"I still think there will be plenty more twists and turns to go. We're in a three-horse title race with two unbelievable sides but, as you've seen with other results today, the Premier League can throw up anything.

"Six finals to go in the Premier League and we'll give it everything."

Paul: Arsenal can take comfort in Liverpool losing today. City will loose games too in the run up to the end of the season. Of the three, City have easy run of games. But I hope Liverpool can nick it but they have uneasy big games to come.

Andy: Season over. Might as well call it. Relegation places won't change, Man City have won the title, top 4 won't change. Let's all just reconvene in August. Have a good summer everyone.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports: "Two very different performances. The first half was superb, one of the best halves we have played against a top team. It should have been three or four - or more.

"We didn't put that score line up and didn't reflect that second half. We lacked momentum. We didn't have the flow we had in the first half and then we conceded two very, very poor goals.

"Credit to them, in the second half we were a bit unprecise with the ball, we weren't able to do what we did in the first half. In the end we lost it so we have to congratulate them on the points."

On missed chances: "When you are at this level, you have to punish them, it is not like you can do that for 90-95 minutes against a top opponent.

"If you can't do that then at least don't concede. We couldn't do that.

"We have to be more patient in the second half to find our moments. We were trying to do that with the changes but that's when we conceded."

On subbing Martin Odegaard: "He had a leg issue, that's why [he was taken off]."

On responding to defeat: "We can't control [Manchester City]. What we can control is that when we have the run we had when you win, win, win, win, it's easy. The moment is now. After this blow, it's how we react.

"We have the best opportunity to react against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The team has to show it. If you want to win, you have to overcome these situations.

"With the games we had, this was going to happen. It is now about how we react. This is in our control."

On Manchester City: "We cannot control that. In any other league in the world if you won the number of games in a row that we did, you would be six or eight points clear. That is not the case here. That is the challenge."

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, speaking to Sky Sports: "Before the match we were very motivated and very excited about the possibility.

"This is a very tough match and we needed to be focusing very well defensively. We wanted to be strong and have high commitment to defence as were in the first half. We tried to do 90 minutes being consistent and wait for our moment to control the game.

"The first half was more difficult but we tried to dominate with the ball. We did that less than in the second half.

"Second half we competed very well. But we are not being consistent in every match like I want. But today we were fantastic."

On preparing for the match: "We analyse deeply before each match and we played 10 ago at Manchester City and lost 4-1. We were trying to understand a lot of things we did good but we needed one step to do something better.

"Today was an example. Firstly, it was in defence. The defence was strong. We tried to be narrow and avoid line passes then being compact with the players. More or less, that was the first idea we had.

"Then it as about trying to get time with the ball. We did, better in the second half and we imposed ourselves."

Arsenal suffered a Premier League defeat for the first time since New Year’s Eve against Fulham (1-2), whilst they have now failed to score in two of their last four league games, having only gone goalless in three of their first 28 games this season.

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Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez, speaking to Sky Sports: "I enjoy every win but the fans have been supporting us home and away. We knew an away win would help our Champions League hopes.

"This is the first step, we've got five finals left. But we need to enjoy this one then go again on Thursday and try to make the semi-finals.

On Arsenal: "I think it was 10-11 years I was here. I've still got friends here. I came here as a lad and left a man. I'll always love this club.

"They are still second, they've come far and have one of the best managers in the world. I've worked with Mikel [Arteta]. I know how good he is."

On his performance: "I tried to keep the team in the game, I always try to keep focused and make saves."

On Ollie Watkins: "I think Ollie should win player of the season. When you play for a 'big six' side, you get more credit but Ollie has scored 19 goals with the chances he's got. He should be a contender."

Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey has been directly involved in seven goals as a substitute in the Premier League this season (three goals, four assists), more than any other player.

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Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's massive to come away to Arsenal when they're playing such good football and controlling games, to play like that just shows where we've come and where we're going.

"It was probably a perfect away performance.

"I grew up supporting Arsenal but it's a different story now that I'm playing against them.

"Any win is a big result but considering the other results, we're focusing on ourselves but we're fighting for Champions League and we knew it was going to be tough today but we've shown what a good side we are.

"A lot of people doubted us, they thought we played good football but couldn't get a result here. We've proved a lot of people wrong."

On Martinez saying he should win player of the year: "It's nice that he's saying that, I'm just trying to let my football do the talking.

"I felt like I played well today, I grew into the game second half. Even if I'd come off without a goal, I'd have been happy with my performance but the little dink was nice."