Villa’s impressive 2-0 victory at Newcastle took Unai Emery’s men level on points with Manchester City, whose own title chances were boosted by events at the Emirates Stadium.
A week on from dominating City in the Manchester derby, Michael Carrick’s dream start as United boss continued thanks to Matheus Cunha’s stunning later winner.
“A really painful one,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. “But now it is time to be very close to those players that have given us so much joy and support them because we all want to win.”
A Lisandro Martinez own goal put Arsenal in front but the Red Devils quickly levelled when Bryan Mbeumo pounced on an error by Martin Zubimendi.
Patrick Dorgu’s brilliant strike put the visitors in front early in the second half.
Not for the first time this season, despite their lofty league position, Arsenal were blunt as an attacking force from open play.
But they could rely on their prowess from set-pieces to equalise when Mikel Merino forced in a corner on 84 minutes.
Just moments later Cunha took aim from outside the box and delivered a telling blow to the Gunners’ hopes of a first league title in 22 years.
Victory also propelled United into the top four to boost their chances of Champions League football next season for the first time in three years.
“To come here and score three goals in the manner we did, going one down, coming back, then the setback, and still keeping going,” said Carrick. “It was a huge moment for us.”
Chelsea inflict more pain on Palace
Villa kept their outside shot at a first league title since 1981 alive with their first victory at St. James’ Park for 21 years.
“We are competing against Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham... Wow, the power they have!” Emery said. “But we are competing and we are there.”
Emiliano Buendia’s brilliant strike from outside the box opened the scoring before Ollie Watkins secured victory when the England international headed in Lucas Digne’s cross two minutes from time.
Newcastle slip to ninth but still only four points outside the top five, which will likely be enough for a place in the Champions League.
Chelsea piled more pain on Crystal Palace with a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park.
Oliver Glasner promised to do his best to turn around a miserable run for the Eagles despite announcing he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Palace are now winless in 11 games and never recovered after a wayward back-pass from Jaydee Canvot freed Estevao to sprint clear and fire in Chelsea’s opener on 34 minutes.
The Brazilian then set up compatriot Joao Pedro to gallop in behind the Palace defence and double the Blues’ advantage just after half-time.
Enzo Fernandez’s penalty rounded off a fourth win in five games for Liam Rosenior since he took charge at Stamford Bridge.
Nottingham Forest gave their survival chances a huge boost by inflicting just a second home defeat of the season on Brentford.
Forest moved five points clear of the drop zone with a 2-0 win in west London thanks to goals from Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi.
On Saturday Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City beat bottom club Wolves 2-0 following a four-game winless run in the league and an embarrassing 3-1 Champions League defeat at Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.
Erling Haaland was left on the bench after a lean spell and centre-back Marc Guehi made his debut after his move from Crystal Palace, easing City’s crippling defensive crisis that has claimed John Stones, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol.
Egypt forward Omar Marmoush put the home side ahead early, finishing crisply from a Matheus Nunes cross for his first Premier League goal of the season.
City made it 2-0 shortly before half-time when Antoine Semenyo scored his third goal for the club in all competitions since arriving at the Etihad from Bournemouth earlier this month.
Elsewhere, Mohamed Salah was back in Liverpool’s starting line-up for a Premier League match for the first time since November but Arne Slot’s men came unstuck on England’s south coast, losing 3-2 to Bournemouth.
The visitors fell 2-0 behind to goals from Evanilson and Alex Jimenez before Virgil van Dijk reduced the deficit in first-half stoppage time.
Dominik Szoboszlai appeared to have rescued a point for the champions with a sweet strike in the 80th minute but Bournemouth still were not done.
Amine Adli prodded home to make it 3-2 with nearly the last touch of the game after a scramble in the box following a long throw, sparking scenes of pandemonium.
“I am very disappointed,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports. “Last minute of the game is very tough to take. We worked very hard in the second half to get back in the game.”
The Liverpool captain admitted his fourth-placed side were still searching for consistency after a first defeat in 14 games in all competitions.
“I don’t think there is any question about our togetherness but the consistency we are looking for still needs to be found,” he added.
Thomas Frank faced fresh calls for his dismissal from angry Tottenham fans after a dispiriting 2-2 draw at strugglers Burnley.
Spurs boss Frank is under intense pressure just seven months into his reign at the London club, seemingly powerless to halt a slide down the table.
The Dane breathed a sigh of relief after a 2-0 midweek win against Borussia Dortmund kept his team flying high in the Champions League but they are floundering domestically.
Captain Cristian Romero’s flying 90th minute header salvaged a point for the visitors at Turf Moor but it was not enough to placate frustrated fans.
Tottenham had taken the lead courtesy of Micky van de Ven’s strike before goals from Axel Tuanzebe and substitute Lyle Foster turned the match on its head.
A large section of the travelling support made it clear they had run out of patience with Frank, who insisted the team were working “very hard”.
Tottenham’s winless league run in 2026 is now five matches and they sit 14th in the table, eight points above the relegation zone.
“I’m sure they can recognise and acknowledge, especially in the first half, the improvement there,” said former Brentford boss Frank. “We could and should have been out of sight.
“But also they acknowledge the willpower and character of the team that keep running, keep fighting to the end.
“We just need to keep going. We do so many things right, but there’s no doubt, it’s not dropping so easy for us.”
Fulham came back from a goal down to beat Brighton 2-1 at Craven Cottage, with Harry Wilson grabbing a winner in stoppage time, while West Ham blew Sunderland away 3-1 to make it two wins out of two and climb to within two points of Premier League safety.