Arsenal's impressive 18-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League came to a dramatic halt on Saturday, with former goalkeeper Shaka Hislop delivering a scathing assessment of midfielder Eberechi Eze's performance in the 2-1 defeat at Villa Park.
Hislop's Harsh Verdict on Eze
Speaking on ESPN, pundit Shaka Hislop did not hold back in his criticism of the Gunners' playmaker. Hislop suggested Eze could have been substituted after just half an hour and labelled his first-half display as 'non-existent'.
'From an Arsenal perspective, it feels like yesterday we were talking about Eberechi Eze and his performance against Spurs and how good he looked through the middle,' Hislop said. 'He could have been taken off after 30 minutes, I'll be honest. Everything from Arsenal came down the right in that first half. Everything came through Bukayo Saka, so the change had to be made at half-time because Eze was non-existent.'
As a result of his anonymous showing, Eze was replaced at the interval by Leandro Trossard, who swiftly made an impact by scoring the equaliser just six minutes after his introduction.
Villa's Stoppage-Time Drama
The match itself was a pivotal moment in the Premier League season. Unai Emery's Aston Villa took a first-half lead through defender Matty Cash. Despite Trossard's leveller, the hosts secured a stunning victory in the fifth minute of stoppage time courtesy of a winner from Emi Buendía.
The result not only ended Arsenal's long unbeaten run but also ignited the title race. The victory was Villa's seventh consecutive win across all competitions and moved them to within three points of the Gunners at the top. Manchester City also closed the gap, sitting just two points behind Arsenal in second place after their own win on Saturday.
Title Race Implications and Manager Reactions
The defeat has suddenly made the Premier League summit look far more precarious for Mikel Arteta's side. Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf believes the title chase is now a genuine three-horse race, though he still considers Arsenal the favourites.
'Everybody is predicting that Arsenal are going to win the Premier League, but we have a race,' Leboeuf stated. 'It's a pity that Chelsea fell asleep again today but Man City and Aston Villa are chasing Arsenal, and it's good for the Premier League. It's what we want. We want suspense.'
While Villa boss Unai Emery attempted to downplay his team's title credentials post-match, Arteta was unequivocal. When asked if Villa were genuine challengers, the Arsenal manager replied: 'They are. When you look at where they are, the way they play, they have beaten some big teams, especially at home.'
Both clubs now turn their attention to European midweek fixtures, with Arsenal facing Club Brugge and Villa travelling to play Basel in Switzerland.
