Arsenal looked scared to win as hope gave way to fear, writes Ian Ladyman as Aston Villa's 2-0…

Twenty minutes after that, Villa did score. They had enjoyed an increasing amount of possession and with that had come confidence and threat. So when Digne crossed low from the left and both Arsenal central defenders failed to intercept, it was no surprise to see Leon Bailey peeling away from a hesitant Rice to score at the far post.

A hammer blow struck by Emery’s excellent and persistent team, Arsenal had six minutes of regular time to respond. Instead Jorginho passed the ball straight to Tielemans within three minutes and when Watkins ran from his own half on to the through ball he held off Emile Smith Rowe to produce one of the best finishes of the season, lifting the ball up and over David Raya’s shoulder and in to the far corner with his right foot.

When teams play like Arsenal did here it tends to hint at something deeper and significant

When teams play like Arsenal did here it tends to hint at something deeper and significant

This result, strangely, will have given Liverpool plenty of hope after they lost to Crystal Palace

This result, strangely, will have given Liverpool plenty of hope after they lost to Crystal Palace

Arsenal will have closed the curtains wondering if last season's horror story was to be replayed

Arsenal will have closed the curtains wondering if last season's horror story was to be replayed

It was a world class finish, one that catapulted Villa in to the box seat ahead of Tottenham in the tussle for fourth and placed Arsenal in to that awful place where senses are scrambled and where what was previously ordered suddenly seems to be without reason.

This is what City do to you, of course. This is what the relentless nature of their football and their victories do to those teams trying to live with them. Arteta knows this. He used to work there, after all.

This, strangely, was a result that will have given hope to Liverpool. They will have gone to bed feeling better. Arsenal, meanwhile, will have closed the curtains wondering if last season’s horror story was about to be played back to them on repeat.