Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa as Emi Buendia won the game with the final kick.
Unai Emery's side proved to be the most troubled Arsenal have been all season, with Mikel Arteta's men unable to handle Villa's energy and attacking play with a raucous Villa Park behind their team. Dealing Arsenal a major title blow and moving three points behind the Premier League leaders.
Just like the save from Kevin Schade’s header against Brentford, David Raya came to Arsenal’s rescue with a terrific stop to deny Ollie Watkins in a glorious first opening of the game.
Leandro Trossard
Leandro Trossard scored Arsenal's equaliser (Image: Getty Images)
The England star, who was previously a transfer target for the Gunners, powered his way past Jurrien Timber before smashing an effort at a comfortable height for the Spaniard to palm away. It was a chance that Watkins took poorly, but Raya still had to produce brilliance to keep the game goalless.
A spell of good football from the visitors saw Bukayo Saka square the ball across the face of goal to Eberechi Eze to tap in, but the linesman’s flag was quickly raised to end the celebrations.
The game ebbed and flowed with both sides creating opportunities, the best chance since Raya denied Watkins, saw Declan Rice put his body on the line to block Matt Cash’s goal-bound effort after he reacted first in the turnover to recover and deny the Villa right-back a clear sight of goal.
But the Poland international wasn’t to be denied a second time when he arrived unmarked at the back post to fire through Raya’s legs - putting Villa ahead and seeing Arsenal go behind for the third away game in a row.
Martin Odegaard failed to close down Pau Torres as his cross was deflected to the back post off the head of Jurrien Timber. Cash ghosted in behind Eze, who had switched off, to give Villa the lead that no one could begrudge them.
Arteta would have been begging for the half-time whistle as Villa ended the first-half on top and deservedly ahead at the break.
Speaking on BBC, Danny Murphy took aim at Arsenal’s application and fitness at half-time, saying: “Aston Villa have been the better team. Arsenal look a bit leggy, lethargic.
“I think the tactical tweak Emery has made by putting Tielemans higher up and Rogers on the left has paid off. It's worked perfectly.”
Arteta reacted at half-time by hooking Mikel Merino and Eze for Viktor Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard and the subs made an almost immediate impact when Trossard stabbed home from close range in the 52nd minute.
Saka and Odegaard linked up down the right to double up on Torres as the England winger fired a ball across the face of goal. Emi Martinez was able to get a hand to the ball but deflected it away from Gyokeres straight to Trossard, who squeezed his shot past Ezri Konsa on the line.
The game continued to be an end-to-end thriller, with Raya and Martinez both called into action to make stunning saves. Boubacar Kamara then found himself in the right place at the right time to clear Saka's effort that was destined to nestle in the bottom corner.
Down the other end, Timber almost turned the ball past Raya, clearing a dangerous cross, as the game somehow remained level. Noni Madueke hit the side netting from a tight angle with the Arsenal's final chance before Emi Buendia's last gasp goal stunned the visitors.
With the final kick of the game, Buendia stabbed home the winning goal following a goal-line scramble that Arsenal were unable to clear.
Arsenal are now just three points clear of Villa and five ahead of Manchester City, who host Sunderland later on Saturday.