Aston Villa 2 Arsenal 4: Emi Martinez scores incredible last-gasp own goal as Gunners title hopes get back on track
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JORGINHO produced a blockbuster ending to break the heart of Aston Villa fan Tom Hanks.
Jorginho’s Hollywood hit came back off the bar and then went in off former Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez to give the travelling fans a perfect, magical moment that could prove crucial.
Deep in stoppage time, Mikel Arteta’s team found a way to complete a comeback from twice going behind, with substitute Gabriel Martinelli making it 4-2 to really rub it in Martinez’s face.
Ex-Gunners boss Unai Emery was moments away from putting another dent in his old club’s title bid.
But the late late drama in an excellent game stole the points for the visitors.
Martinelli and fellow sub Fabio Vieira were punching the air even before he put it in the net.
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This was a massive, massive win, with tempers fraying on the pitch and in the stands as Arsenal staff over-celebrated.
After losing to rival Manchester City in midweek, Arteta needed a reaction.
He made changes to the side beaten by City, but the same problems dogged the Gunners.
Takehiro Tomiyasu paid the price for the mistake that led to City’s opening goal in midweek, with Ben White restored at right-back.
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Gabriel Martinelli’s drop in form saw him dropped to the bench, too, and Leandro Trossard made his first start since his January move from Brighton.
Emery made five changes from the side that had lost to Arsenal’s title rivals, Manchester City, giving Coutinho a first Premier League start since he took over from the sacked Steven Gerrard.
But after panic in London in midweek, there was panic again in Birmingham as Villa went ahead inside five minutes.
Watkins initially miscontrolled Matty Cash’s lofted ball forward but William Saliba stood off the Villa striker.
Watkins gained a yard of space far too easily and then beat Aaron Ramsdale with a low left-footed shot.
Hanks, sitting in the directors’ box, could hardly believe it.
The Gunners were shell-shocked.
A few minutes later, Ramsdale delayed a clearance long enough for Watkins to block it in the six-yard box.
The game was being played at a frantic pace.
Tyrone Mings made a spectacular goalline clearance ahead of Eddie Nketiah, not knowing that White had been offside before providing the cross.
And soon afterwards the equaliser came.
This time Mings failed to deal with a White cross properly, his header fell to Bukayo Saka and the England man belted it home.
The visitors seemed to have banished their nerves and to be gaining a bit of control when suddenly they went behind again.
It was a fine Villa move, too, that would have people purring if Arsenal had produced it.
Coutinho dropped off to feed Boubacar Kamara, who rolled the ball into the path of left-back Alex Moreno.
Emi Buendia wrongfooted the Gunners’ defence with a brilliant dummy and Coutinho used the space and time he had been granted to perfection.
The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Arsenal, who struggled to find openings.
Some tasty tackles were flying in from both sides and emotions spilled over just before the break.
Saka took exception to a Coutinho foul and pushed him.
Douglas Luiz flew in to defend his fellow Brazilian and then almost everyone got involved.
Somehow only Saka and Luiz were shown yellow cards by referee Simon Hooper.
Arsenal came out early for a second half on which their season could turn.
They dominated possession and territory, with Saka a regular outlet, but met stern resistance from a well-organised and determined Villa.
Nketiah was struggling to make an impact but did hit the bar with a header from a White cross.
But on the hour Arsenal worked a short-corner routine, Martin Odegaard fed Oleksandr Zinchenko and the Ukrainian’s precise low shot beat Emi Martinez at his near post.
Zinchenko didn’t even celebrate, preferring instead to roar for more effort from his team-mates.
Almost immediately, Nketiah nearly rose to the challenge.
But after running on to Odegaard’s through ball and holding off Ezri Konsa, he shot over the bar.
Arsenal and their fans were turning the screw.
“You’re just a s*** Aaron Ramsdale,” the visiting supporters told former Gunner Martinez.
Martinelli came on for the disappointing Trossard and immediately looked a threat as the visitors went for the winner.
Villa weren’t doing much at the other end, although John McGinn wriggled free only to put his shot much too close to Ramsdale.
Then came the moment that Odegaard and Arsenal may look back on with bitter regret.
Nketiah robbed Konsa and laid the ball into the Norwegian’s path in the penalty area.
The Arsenal captain had most of the goal to aim at but put his shot wide.
There was still more bittersweet drama for Hanks to enjoy.
Substitute Leon Bailey smashed a shot goalwards but Ramsdale managed to get enough on it to divert the ball on to the underside of the bar.
Then Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes headed over the frame of the goal.
Early in stoppage time, Villa sub Jhon Duran burst clear but Ramsdale saved again.
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But then Jorginho struck and World Cup winner Martinez tasted the other side of football.
The visiting fans taunted him with a sarcastic song of praise before Martinelli raced on to Vieira’s pass to score, with the Villa ‘keeper caught upfield.