🔗 Share this article Villa's Buendía Shocks Leaders Arsenal with Last-Gasp Goal. Mikel Arteta had spoken about the considerable threats that lay in wait for his pace-setting Arsenal side at Villa Park. Aston Villa have in the past inflicted painful blows to the Gunners' championship hopes. Just months ago, Unai Emery's team rallied from two goals behind to snatch a draw that hampered Arsenal's chase. Furthermore, two seasons earlier, Villa managed a league double over Arsenal, with a last-minute on the road win playing a key role in handing the title to another rival. A Clash of In-Form Sides Therefore, Arteta and his team were fully aware of the task of breaking down a Villa side in the midst of an impressive run of results, having secured 12 victories from their last 14 matches across all competitions. Emery, in turn, understood the difficulty of overcoming an Arsenal team that had claimed 17 of their 21 fixtures this season and had strengthened their roster in the off-season. Even missing key defender Cristhian Mosquera, the backline featuring Jurriën Timber and Piero Hincapié did not look lacking in ability. The Scene was Set for a Dramatic Conclusion. Matty Cash Fires Villa Ahead Villa seized a first-half advantage through an ever more dependable source: defender Matty Cash. Eight minutes after Declan Rice had heroically denied a vicious Cash effort, the Villa defender drove another attempt through the legs of goalkeeper David Raya. The goal originated after Timber flicked on a Pau Torres cross. Emery reacted with clenched fists as the entire Villa team rushed to congratulate Cash in the corner for his trademark celebratory routine. Arsenal Respond Following the Interval Arteta acted swiftly, introducing attackers Viktor Gyökeres and Leandro Trossard at halftime. The change proved effective quickly. Trossard first whistled a volley just wide, before igniting wild celebrations in the traveling end minutes later. After Rice won possession in midfield and Martin Ødegaard released the overlapping Bukayo Saka, a frenzy in the box ensued. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez could only push Saka's cross, leaving Trossard to slam the rebound into the net from close range. A Breathless Finale and Last-Minute Drama The game raced at a frantic tempo. Former Arsenal player Donyell Malen, now a Villa sub, dragged a shot wide. At the other end, Martínez touched a swerving Ødegaard effort. Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, the drama reached its climax in the 94th minute. In a chaotic goalmouth scramble, replacement Emiliano Buendía hauled himself up to poke the ball over the line, sending Villa Park into utter bedlam. Former Arsenal goalkeeper Martínez raced to celebrate with the pulsating pile of ecstatic Villa players near the halfway line. Championship Battle Well and Truly On This victory launches Aston Villa squarely into the heart of the title chase. The electrifying reaction following Buendía's stoppage-time winner underscored its importance. The fixture between the top two teams, now divided by just three points, lived up to its hype as a potential campaign-altering clash.