Arsenal’s Premier League title push was hit by late goals from Aston Villa, as they suffered a surprise 2-0 home defeat on Sunday.

The loss hands the initiative to leaders and defending champions Manchester City.

Arsenal’s loss, their first in 12 league games, leaves them in second place, two points behind City and level on points with third-placed Liverpool with six games left to play.

Following Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday, the weekend belonged to City who bolstered their chances of an unprecedented fourth straight league title with a 5-1 defeat of visiting Luton Town on Saturday.

The win boosts fourth-placed Aston Villa’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, and moves them three points above Tottenham Hotspur, albeit having played a game more.