‘It’s painful’ - Arteta breaks silence as Villa cage Eberechi Eze, Saka, Madueke to beat Arsenal

Mikel Arteta couldn't hide his devastation as Arsenal's Premier League title charge suffered a crushing blow against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

The Gunners boss admitted the manner of his side's dramatic 2-1 defeat was "very difficult to take" after Emiliano Buendía's 95th-minute winner left Arsenal's championship dreams hanging by a thread.

Arsenal looked to have salvaged a point through substitute Leandro Trossard's equaliser, only for Villa to snatch victory with virtually the last kick of the game.

Arteta's pain was evident as he dissected the defeat that ended his team's impressive 18-match unbeaten streak and saw them surrender ground in the title race.

"In the manner it happened at the end, very difficult to take," the Spanish boss said, his voice heavy with emotion. "Last kick of the game, we had the chance, we don't score, goal-kick long, second ball, clear the ball, individual action and chaos in the box and you end up losing it. It's painful."

Aston Villa's organised defense successfully caged Arsenal's attacking stars Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke, who replaced Saka in the second half, throughout the contest.

Despite flashes of brilliance from Saka, who set up Eze for a disallowed goal and provided the assist for Trossard's equaliser, the Gunners couldn't break down a resolute Villa backline when it mattered most.

Arteta felt his side had grown into the game after a shaky start, dominating the second half following Trossard's 52nd-minute leveller.

"In the second half we started really well, scored a goal, we were very dominant," he explained. "But we had periods where the same issue appeared. We allowed spaces and gave balls away to the opponent.

The defeat was made more painful by Villa's sensational form. Unai Emery's men have now won seven consecutive matches across all competitions, catapulting them to second in the Premier League table.

Matty Cash's powerful first-half strike and Buendía's dramatic winner showcased Villa's title credentials, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez producing several world-class saves to deny Arsenal.

For Arsenal, it's now three dropped points in their last five league matches, a worrying trend for a team with championship ambitions.

The Gunners' inability to kill off games and defensive lapses at crucial moments have emerged as their Achilles heel, leaving them vulnerable in what promises to be a thrilling title race.

As Arteta returns to the drawing board, one question haunts Emirates Stadium: Can Arsenal recover from this crushing blow, or will Villa Park prove to be where their title dreams died?

The evidence suggests the pain is only just beginning.