BIRMINGHAM. — ASTON VILLA sneaked out of the relegation zone, for the first time since February, and gave themselves a chance to stay in the English Premiership when the season comes to an end on Sunday.

Dean Smith’s men shocked Arsenal 1-0 at Villa Park last night, with Egyptian forward Trezeguet scoring a wonder goal in the first half, to go ahead of Watford who slumped to a 0-4 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City yesterday.

It was the first league win for Villa over the Gunners since Dion Dublin scored late in 1998 and Arsenal were just lifeless they failed to get even a shot on target all night.

Substitute Chris Wilcox came closest for the visitors, with his headed effort coming off the post, but this was a victory Villa thoroughly deserved and, incredibly, they could even lose their final match against West Ham and still survive.

Zimbabwean midfielder Marvelous Nakamba was introduced in the 72nd minute, as Villa looked to close shop, and he provided the energy they wanted at that time as the Gunners, who dominated possession in the second half, appeared to be gaining an advantage in midfield. The game should have been safe for Villa, without the need for the nervy finish, but substitute Keinan Davis dragged his effort wide of goal when through on goal.

Meanwhile, Watford failed to ease their relegation fears in the wake of Nigel Pearson’s surprise sacking as they were hammered 0-4 by a Raheem Sterling-inspired Manchester City last night.

Defeat means the Hornets’ battle to stay up will go to the final day of the season on Sunday, when they visit Arsenal.

Pearson became the Hornets’ third managerial casualty of the campaign on Monday, leaving Under-23 coach Hayden Mullins and his assistant Graham Stack in charge for their final two games.

And they could hardly have had a tougher first assignment than against City, who completed the double over them with this win, at an aggregate score of 12-0 — a joint top-flight record for one team against another in a single season.

Sterling took the game away from the home side before half-time, firing in a rising shot to open the scoring before doubling the advantage by following up his own saved penalty — awarded for a foul on him by Will Hughes.

Phil Foden added a third after Ben Foster had parried a Sterling shot before Aymeric Laporte nodded in from Kevin de Bruyne’s free-kick-The Herald