Arsenal's Premier League title ambitions suffered a significant blow on Saturday, falling to a dramatic 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, compounded by a fresh injury worry for goalscorer Leandro Trossard.
Late Villa Winner Dashes Arsenal Hopes
The Gunners saw a potential eight-point lead over Manchester City evaporate at Villa Park, with Emi Buendia's 95th-minute strike sealing a crushing victory for the hosts. Matty Cash had opened the scoring for Villa in the 36th minute, leaving Arsenal chasing the game.
Mikel Arteta introduced Leandro Trossard at half-time, and the Belgian forward delivered an equaliser just seven minutes after the restart. However, the comeback was short-lived, and the late winner leaves Arsenal just two points clear at the summit.
Trossard's Return Cut Short by Injury Setback
The major concern for Arsenal emerged when Trossard, who had missed the previous two matches with an ankle issue, was substituted before full-time. Despite only entering the fray at the interval, the 31-year-old was replaced by Gabriel Martinelli after feeling discomfort.
Speaking post-match, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the worrying news: "He was really good. We knew he is another player coming back from injury and he started to feel it again so we had to take him off." This suggests Trossard may have aggravated the initial problem, casting doubt on his immediate availability.
Arteta Reacts to Fixture Load and Defeat
When questioned on whether a congested schedule played a part in the loss, Arteta offered a measured response. "I don't know. At some point I thought we were going to win it," he said, before pointing to uncharacteristic errors. He specifically linked Trossard's early withdrawal to a pre-planned minutes limit, stating the decision to substitute him was brought forward.
Arsenal now face a quick turnaround with a Champions League trip to Club Brugge in midweek, followed by Premier League fixtures against Wolves and Everton. The potential loss of Trossard, who has six goals this season including three in his last three league games, is a significant blow to their attacking options during this critical period.
