‘So clever’ – Emi Buendia nutmegs Arsenal star Granit Xhaka without touching the ball before Philippe Coutinho deceives Aaron Ramsdale

Phillipe Coutinho’s strike for Aston Villa was preceded by a superb dummy from Emi Buendia that nutmegged Granit Xhaka.

The former Liverpool man struck from the edge of the area to put his side back in front against the Premier League title chasers.

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Coutinho’s strike gave Villa the lead for the second time against Arsenal

Alex Moreno ran down the left of the pitch and sent a teasing ball to towards the box.

It was intended for Buendia, but he pulled off an excellent dummy which nutmegged Xhaka, with Coutinho then sending Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way in the Gunners’ goal.

Buendia’s skill was a piece of real quality, and former West Ham man Dean Ashton was in awe of the Argentinian.

On commentary for talkSPORT, he said: “Oh, THAT’S why he’s in the side, because he can do things like that! It’s a brilliant bit of play, the Aston Villa players combined brilliantly.

“Buendia is so clever, he knows exactly where Coutinho is, he lets the ball run through his legs and Coutinho just gives Ramsdale the absolute eyes – as though he’s shooting to the goalkeeper’s left and then just rolls it in the opposite corner.

“Brilliant from Coutinho, brilliant from Aston Villa!”

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Villa were arguably deserved leaders at the interval

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However, he was also on hand to criticise Arsenal’s defending in the match, adding: “But again, it’s more worrying signs for Arsenal in terms of that space in between the full-backs and centre-backs.

“It’s too easy for that ball to be played over the top or down the sides, they either don’t want to go out there when the full-backs are high, or they don’t recognise the danger to go out there quicker.

“Villa have offered very little, but they have scored with their two big attempts. It’s not as though they’ve been dominant. Their two goals would have been just what they would have worked on.

“It’ll worry [Mikel] Arteta how fragile his team have looked.”

Villa took the lead after five minutes thanks to Ollie Watkins’ low strike, but Arsenal hit back through Bukayo Saka’s volley.

The host’s second goal is arguably the best of the lot, with Buendia’s skill proving too much for Xhaka to deal with.