London (AFP)

Aston Villa came out of the red zone by beating a pale Arsenal (1-0) on Tuesday: the Villains will be 17th to start the 38th and final day of the Premier League, ahead of Watford (18th), sharply beaten by Manchester City (4-0) ) and now first relegation.

The Birmingham players showed a lot of envy against the Gunners and they were rewarded with a small goal that can be very expensive on Sunday night.

The mine of Hassan 'Trezeguet', all alone to take a corner from Grealish extended by Mings, from the outside of the right foot, without thinking, gave a deserved advantage to Aston Villa (27th), much more enterprising in the first period.

This goal especially allows Aston Villa to join Watford in total points (34 in 37 matches). It especially improves their goal difference (-26) while Watford had plunged to -27 two hours earlier by suffering a heavy defeat at Vicarage Road against Manchester City (4-0).

Visibly dull after two prestigious victories against Liverpool and especially Manchester City, Saturday night in the Cup, Mikel Arteta's Gunners may have chosen to favor the FA Cup final, on August 1 at Wembley against Chelsea, to close in beauty a failed season.

Despite the presence on the lawn in the second period of Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe, three high-level attackers, they never managed to force the Villains' lock and for good reason: zero shots on target in 90 minutes .

Above all, they confirmed that they did not have the level this season to seek a European place on a regular basis, whether in the Champions League or even in the Europa League.

-Arsenal referee for the maintenance-

Villa even almost made the break fifteen minutes from the end when Davis, well launched by an untenable Grealish, crossed his shot too much (75th), then when McGinn fired hard on Martinez (78th).

Meanwhile, Pepe Reina had been saved by his right post on a corner from Pepe headed by Nketiah (77th).

Previously, Manchester City had left no chance for Watford, drastically beaten 4-0.

At the break, City were already leading 2-0 thanks to two goals from Raheem Sterling, before doubling the lead thanks to Phil Foden and Aymeric Laporte.

Arsenal, who have nothing more to play in this championship, will be the arbiter of the fight for maintenance as the Gunners host Watford on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium.

At the same time, Aston Villa (17th) will try to keep its place in the Premier League on the lawn of West Ham, already saved.

© 2020 AFP