X reacts as Aston Villa put huge dent in Arsenal's Premier League title hopes

Sunday April 14 may go down as the day in which Manchester City won a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title - and they didn't even play.

Following their 5-1 win over Luton Town on Saturday, Man City put all the pressure on Liverpool and Arsenal heading ahead of their tricky clashes with Crystal Palace and Aston Villa respectively - and they both crumbled under said pressure.

The Gunners followed up Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace with a shocking 2-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium, seemingly gifting the league title to Man City in the process.

Here's how X reacted to the game:

The major talking point pre-game was Liverpool's defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield - a result which set the stage for Arsenal to climb up to first in the Premier League table with a win over Aston Villa.

Knowing the importance of a win, Mikel Arteta opted to pick an extremely attacking line up fo rthe game at the Emirates Stadium.

Leandro Trossard was drafted in on the left wing, Gabriel Jesus started up front, and Kai Havertz dropped into midfield.

It's fair to say that Arsenal fans were happy with the tactics being employed:

The attacking trio on the left of Arsenal's team almost paid dividends for Arteta in the opening phases of the game.

Trossard played a beautiful ball through the heart of the Villa defence and into the path of Havertz, however the German's subsequent effort on goal was well saved by Emi Martinez.

Jesus was next to come close to opening the scoring - rather egregiously missing the target with a header from six yards out after wonderful move from the Gunners.

For all their great play in the offensive third, a moment of madness from Gabriel at the other end so nearly cost Arsenal.

The defender's clumsy pass allowed Ollie Watkins to steam through on goal in the 39th minute, however his blushes were spared when the forward's low effort on goal cannoned off the foot of the post.

Less than a minute later, Arsenal would be denied what looked like a certain goal by Martinez.

The Argentine World Cup winner raced quickly across his line to flick a Trossard effort from the edge of the six yard box clear of danger.

Save of the season?

Possibly...

Villa wrestled control of the game off of Arsenal in the second half, and so nearly got the all-important opening goal through Youri Tielemans on the hour mark.

The midfielder's effort from the left of the box, seemingly impossibly, cannoned off the crossbar and then the foot of the post before flying clear of the Arsenal box.

Villa deservedly got their goal in the final 20 minutes, with substitute Leon Bailey stealing in at the back post in order to prod home a huge goal in the title race.

As Arsenal pressed forward in search of an equaliser, Villa were able to pounce on the break in order to seal the win.

This time Watkins would race through on goal and beautifully dink over Raya to make it 2-0.

And that was that.

Aston Villa got a win that puts them in the driving seat in the top four race ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, and Arsenal suffered a defeat which may have just handed the Premier League title to Manchester City.

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