After winning their 15th straight home league game, Aston Villa defeated title contenders Arsenal 1-0, with John McGinn scoring the game’s lone goal to pull the team to within two points of the Premier League summit.
After Leon Bailey’s lightning-fast run, McGinn swung around to fire home on minute seven, giving the hosts a strong start.
The visitors kept up their pressure as the half went on, and they were unlucky not to draw level when Emiliano Martinez, the Villa goalkeeper, made a mistake that caused the ball to bounce off the post and then be cleared from beneath the crossbar just before the hour mark.
Even though Kai Havertz did bundle the ball into the net at the very last second, the referee ruled it out for a handball, and the on-field ruling was upheld following a protracted VAR check.
After their impressive victory over champion Manchester City in the middle of the week, Villa appeared exhausted, but they persevered in their defense to extend their incredible winning run at home.
Due to the outcome, Arsenal is currently one point behind leaders Liverpool in second place and will not have the opportunity to pass them again. In third place, Villa is a point further back.
Before playing Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday, Arsenal will now travel to PSV Eindhoven to conclude Group B of the UEFA Champions League.
Before traveling to Brentford on Sunday, Villa is away to Zrinjski Mostar in Group E of the UEFA Europa Conference League.