Overview
- Aston Villa overturned a first‑half deficit at Stamford Bridge as substitute Ollie Watkins scored twice to secure a 2-1 victory.
- Chelsea have launched an internal probe and are cooperating with league inquiries to identify who threw an open plastic bottle toward the Villa technical area; the source remains unclear and referee inclusion is unconfirmed.
- The win extends Villa’s streak to 11 consecutive victories in all competitions and keeps Unai Emery’s side three points behind leaders Arsenal.
- Villa will be without Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara for the trip to Arsenal after both received fifth yellow cards at Stamford Bridge.
- Chelsea captain Reece James said the team were at fault for the collapse, and Enzo Maresca downplayed Cole Palmer’s angry reaction to being substituted as the Blues’ league run slipped to one win in six.