Aston Villa's hopes of joining the Premier League summit were dashed in a crushing 4-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, a match overshadowed by a fiery post-match tunnel incident involving goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Villa's Title Ambitions Unravel in Second Half Collapse
Unai Emery's side arrived in North London on Tuesday with the chance to draw level on points with league leaders Arsenal. The match remained finely poised until the second half, when the home side's pressure told. The opening goal came after Martinez spilled the ball under challenge from Gabriel following a corner, with the Arsenal defender pouncing to score.
This error proved the catalyst for a decisive Arsenal onslaught. Further goals from Martín Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus put the result beyond doubt. Ollie Watkins managed a late consolation for the visitors, but the 4-1 scoreline reflected a comprehensive victory for Mikel Arteta's team.
Tunnel Tensions: Martinez Reacts to Taunts
The drama continued after the final whistle. As the Argentina international goalkeeper made his way down the tunnel, he was subjected to loud goading from home supporters. Footage shared widely on social media, including on platform X, showed Martinez turning to react and exchange words with the fans.
In the video, one Arsenal fan could be heard repeatedly shouting, "Rattled, you're rattled, he's so rattled." The situation required intervention from a member of Aston Villa's backroom staff, who stepped in to guide Martinez away from the confrontation and back towards the away dressing room.
Post-Match Fallout and Social Media Spat
Martinez, known for his pantomime villain persona and history of winding up opposition fans, later took to Instagram to comment on the match's pivotal moment. He posted an image of the aerial challenge with Gabriel for the first goal, implying he was fouled. His caption read: "The best team won today, we still in good position for the 2nd part of the season #elbowallow."
The tunnel incident was not the only post-match controversy. Aston Villa manager Unai Emery faced scrutiny for apparently not shaking hands with his opposite number, Mikel Arteta. Emery explained his actions in his press conference, stating his routine is to shake hands quickly and head inside. He claimed he waited but Arteta was celebrating with his coaches, leading him to depart due to the cold.
This heavy defeat represents a significant setback for Aston Villa's surprise title challenge, while Arsenal solidified their position at the top of the Premier League table with a statement performance.
