The Lille still alive who suffered at Villa Park on Thursday (1-2) understood this Sunday how difficult it will be, Thursday in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, to eliminate Aston Villa in the quarter-final second leg of the Europa Conference League. Because the Villans, without Douglas Luiz, suspended, came to win in style against the Gunners (2-0).
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was, like the last few weeks, very present on his line and very tight. And his teammates planted two banderillas on the counter at the very end of the match. Served by Lucas Digne (0-1, 84th), Leon Bailey, who entered the game (60th) to the detriment of Moussa Diaby, opened the scoring. Then the inevitable Ollie Watkins (0-2, 87th), second best scorer in the Championship (19 goals), deceived the Arsenal goalkeeper with a magnificent dive ball.
Aston Villa and Crystal Palace turn the Premier League tables
Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, the latter winner (1-0) in Liverpool, are therefore the two teams who overturned the table of the Premier League this Sunday. They perhaps allowed Manchester City, first in the standings with 73 points after their big success on Saturday over Luton (5-1), two more than the Reds and Arsenal, to move towards the title with six days remaining. of the Championship.
Villa’s success is well deserved. Because the Villans also hit Raya’s uprights twice by Ollie Watkins with a cross shot (39th) and, above all, by Youri Tielemans whose brushed ball hit the underside of the bar then the base of the left post (62nd) .
Unai Emery’s players will therefore have beaten the Gunners twice this season (1-0) in December). The latter had possession but they were not able to transform their territorial domination despite good collective movements, two opportunities from Leandro Trossard diverted by Emiliano Martinez (11th, 40th), a header off target from Bukayo Saka (18th) , a strike from Gabriel Jesus again repelled by Martinez (64th), before the center forward’s action was penalized with an offside.
Three days before their C1 return match against Bayern (going 2-2 at the Emirates), the Gunners suffered in the second half. Their less oppressive pressing and their less fluid play gave Aston Villa a breather, who dictated their own tempo. Only fourth in the standings, one point ahead of Tottenham beaten at Newcastle (0-4), the Villans had prepared the perfect plan. They showed the ferocity necessary to contain their opponent before insisting in depth when the Gunners came in numbers to fail their defense where Diego Carlos was particularly sharp.
