Arsenal's Premier League title hopes suffered a significant blow on Saturday as they lost 2-1 to Aston Villa, with an injury-time winner from Emi Buendia sealing the defeat. The result marked only the Gunners' second league loss of the season, but allowed Manchester City to close the gap at the top to just two points.
The team have now dropped points in three of their last five league matches, and have started conceding goals at an alarming rate. After letting in just four goals in their first 16 games in all competitions, they have since shipped six in six. Once on course to break Chelsea's all-time record of just 15 league goals conceded in a single season, Arsenal's immediate priority is now simply regaining their form.
Viktor Gyokeres has urged his team-mates to be more inventive in the final third and to take more shots. "We have to keep creating chances and get shots on goal because then you'll eventually score more goals," the Swede said after the game. "If we focus on what we can control and do in our favour and focus on the next game, we'll be better, I think." Gyokeres has been limited to an impact-sub role since returning from a muscle injury in November, and has six goals in 17 appearances across all competitions.
An interaction between Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard also caused a stir. Rice was seen shouting at Odegaard after the Norway international pulled out of a 50-50 challenge in the final moments of stoppage time, just seconds before Arsenal conceded the last-gasp winner. Odegaard also failed to track Boubacar Kamara's run into the box for Buendia's goal, but manager Mikel Arteta refused to single out any individual after the match.
