Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday, 06 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Aston Villa beat Arsenal 2-1 in a hard-fought Premier League clash at Villa Park. Matty Cash opened the scoring for the hosts in the 36th minute, giving Villa the lead going into half-time after a first half where they looked solid on the counter. Arsenal made changes at the break, and Leandro Trossard equalised in the 52nd minute, but Villa’s persistence paid off when Emiliano Buendía netted a dramatic winner in the 90+5th minute.

This result extends Aston Villa’s impressive run of five straight league wins, building on victories over Brighton, Wolves, Leeds and Bournemouth, which has them climbing the table with confidence. Arsenal, who arrived top of the league after a mixed bag including a win over Brentford and draws with Chelsea and Sunderland, will rue missed opportunities in a game that slipped away late. Villa’s late heroics underlined their current momentum, while Arsenal’s defeat halts their title charge momentarily.

Possession was evenly split, with Aston Villa holding 47% and Arsenal edging it at 53%, suggesting neither side truly dominated the ball but Arsenal perhaps looked to control the tempo more. Corners were level at three each, and successful dribbles stood at 50 for both teams, pointing to a balanced contest where individual flair was matched without one team breaking through consistently. Arsenal picked up two yellow cards compared to Villa’s none, which might have disrupted their rhythm, while both sides used all five substitutions, with Villa recording one assist in the game against Arsenal’s zero, highlighting a slight edge in creative output for the hosts.

On the substitution front, Aston Villa brought on Donyell Malen for Ollie Watkins at 66 minutes, Jadon Sancho and Lamare Bogarde for John McGinn and Amadou Onana at 75 minutes, Victor Lindelöf for Pau Torres at 86 minutes, and Emiliano Buendía for Matty Cash at 87 minutes. Arsenal made halftime switches with Viktor Gyökeres replacing Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard coming on for Eberechi Eze, followed by Noni Madueke for Bukayo Saka at 79 minutes, and Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel Martinelli for Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard at 86 minutes, showing both managers tried to influence the game’s flow.

The game turned on key goals, starting with Matty Cash’s strike in the 36th minute to put Aston Villa ahead. Arsenal responded after halftime substitutions, with Leandro Trossard levelling in the 52nd minute, but yellow cards to Riccardo Calafiori in the 72nd minute and Bukayo Saka in the 74th added pressure on the visitors. Late changes proved decisive as Emiliano Buendía, who had just come on for Matty Cash at 87 minutes, scored the winner in the 90+5th minute, assisted by Boubacar Kamara, sealing the points for Villa.

Substitutions played a big role, with Arsenal’s halftime introductions of Viktor Gyökeres for Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard for Eberechi Eze injecting energy, while Villa’s later swaps like Jadon Sancho for John McGinn and Lamare Bogarde for Amadou Onana at 75 minutes helped maintain their push. The match stayed competitive until Buendía’s stoppage-time goal shifted the momentum firmly to the hosts.

Aston Villa lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Matty Cash providing width and threat from the right, as seen in his goal, while partnerships like Amadou Onana in midfield offered solidity before his substitution. Emiliano Buendía made an impact after coming on, and Boubacar Kamara’s assist highlighted creative links in the attacking third. Players like Ollie Watkins led the line until his exit, supporting a setup focused on counter-attacking efficiency.

Arsenal deployed a 4-3-3 shape, relying on players like Leandro Trossard, who scored after entering at halftime, to drive forward play alongside Bukayo Saka before his booking and substitution. Riccardo Calafiori’s yellow card disrupted the defensive rhythm, while midfielders such as Mikel Merino started but made way early. The formation aimed for width and pressing, with substitutions like Viktor Gyökeres and Noni Madueke adding options in attack.

Matty Cash earned Ladbrokes’ Man of the Match award for his standout performance, scoring one goal and delivering one key pass while creating no big chances but showing real influence before his substitution at 87 minutes. His contribution was pivotal in breaking the deadlock and helping Aston Villa secure the win. Cash’s efforts underlined his importance in both defence and attack during his time on the pitch.

Recent Premier League matches:

• Win: 2-1 vs Arsenal (H)
• Win: 4-3 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Leeds United (A)
• Win: 4-0 vs AFC Bournemouth (H)

Recent Premier League matches:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Aston Villa (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Brentford (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Chelsea (A)
• Win: 4-1 vs Tottenham Hotspur (H)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Sunderland (A)

Aston Villa have just secured a 2-1 victory over Arsenal, continuing their hot streak of five consecutive league wins that has them sitting third on 30 points and firmly in the hunt for top spots. Their next fixture is against Basel on 11 December 2025 at 20:00, a match that could help them build further momentum in European competition. With recent successes against teams like Brighton and Leeds, Villa will look to carry this form forward against opposition whose current standing is yet to be confirmed.

Arsenal have just suffered a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, a setback after a run that included a win over Brentford, draws with Chelsea and Sunderland, and a strong victory against Tottenham, leaving them top on 33 points but under pressure to bounce back. Their next match is against Club Brugge on 10 December 2025 at 20:00, an opportunity to regain rhythm in Europe. With the title race tight, Arsenal need a positive result against opponents whose position is still to be determined to maintain their lead.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.