Arsenal vs Aston Villa LIVE: Result from the Emirates as visitors come from 2-0 down to draw
Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa: Visitors come from two goals down to grab a result in entertaining clash
Arsenal let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 against Aston Villa on Saturday night, as the Gunners once again lost ground to Liverpool in the title race.
The hosts started the match quickly, squandering chances early on, but they were deservedly ahead at the break as Gabriel Martinelli bundled in Leandro Trossard’s cross at the back post.
The second half started in a similar fashion, and the pressure paid off after another excellent cross from Trossard allowed Kai Havertz to volley in for 2-0.
Arsenal looked like strolling towards a straightforward win at that point, only to fall asleep and allow Lucas Digne to swing in a brilliant cross that Youri Tielemans dived to head in.
Villa’s pressure then told as Ollie Watkins volleyed in Matty Cash’s cross to equalise late on.
There was still room for more drama at the Emirates as Mikel Merino’s effort was disallowed after hitting Havertz’s hand on the way in, but the points were shared in a match that could prove pivotal in the title race.
Follow all of the latest from the Emirates Stadium in our live blog below:
The Arsenal substitution that helps explain their crumbling title bid
Mikel Arteta waited 84 minutes to make a substitution in this match, and when he finally broke glass, his only tool was a decidedly blunt Raheem Sterling. For all Sterling’s known talents, he is a 30-year-old winger of fading impact and it was enough to wonder whether the player he was replacing, an utterly knackered Gabriel Martinelli, might still have been the better option as the minutes ticked away.
Arsenal’s lack of depth right now doesn’t entirely explain how they contrived to draw this game 2-2, having led 2-0 after an hour, as mighty chunks of their title bid crumbled away. Aston Villa deserve plenty of credit. But it was conspicuous that where Arteta made only one substitution, just minutes before kick-off here, Liverpool had snatched victory at Brentford thanks to a £60m substitute, Darwin Nunez, one of five luxury second-half changes by Arne Slot.
Football in the five-subs era is now a new game of two halves: the first hour, in which the first XIs play; and the final 30 minutes plus added time when half of the outfield players change, when tactics shift and identities morph and games are won and lost.
The Arsenal substitution that explains their crumbling title bid
Arsenal appoint Renee Slegers as new head coach after impressive interim spell
Renee Slegers has been appointed as Arsenal’s head coach on a permanent basis after managing to save the club’s season since the departure of Jonas Eidevall.
Slegers, who was Eidevall’s assistant before stepping in on an interim basis in October, has overseen an impressive 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions while qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League as group winners.
The Gunners looked to be in disarray when Eidevall resigned just weeks into the season but Slegers has been popular with the first-team squad and has transformed the club’s form as well as the mood around the Emirates ahead of the second half of the Women’s Super Leaguecampaign.
Arsenal appoint Renee Slegers as new head coach after impressive interim spell
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta makes Premier League title race prediction: ‘It is going to be a long, long run’
Mikel Arteta insists it is not a two-horse race between Arsenal and Liverpool in the battle for the Premier League title.
Arsenal moved to within four points of Arne Slot's table-topping Reds following their 2-1 comeback victory against Tottenham at the Emirates on Wednesday.
Chelsea have been cast 10 points adrift following a poor run, while champions Manchester City are a dozen points back, having played one game more than Liverpool.
Arteta makes Premier League title race prediction: ‘It's going to be a long run’
Mikel Arteta tells Bukayo Saka to go on holiday during injury absence
Injured Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has been told to go on holiday by his manager Mikel Arteta.
Saka had been Arsenal’s star performer this season with nine goals and 13 assists prior to the hamstring injury he sustained in last month’s win against Crystal Palace.
The 23-year-old England international has been ruled out until at least March following surgery on the muscle tear.
Mikel Arteta tells Bukayo Saka to go on holiday during injury absence
Mikel Arteta bemoans Arsenal’s crippling injury list after Aston Villa draw
Mikel Arteta hinted that injuries to his Arsenal squad are close to ending their Premier League challenge following a crushing 2-2 draw against Aston Villa at the Emirates.
Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz fired the home side into a 2-0 lead but Villa fought back through goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins in eight second-half minutes to deal a potentially devastating blow to Arsenal’s title tilt.
Arsenal have been rocked by injuries to a host of players this season, with Bukayo Saka out until at least March following hamstring surgery, while Gabriel Jesus is sidelined for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Mikel Arteta bemoans Arsenal’s crippling injury list after Aston Villa draw
Arsenal’s title bid dealt a blow as Aston Villa hit back for a point
Arsenal’s Premier League title bid was dealt a hammer blow after they surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa at the Emirates.
Gabriel Martinelli fired Arsenal ahead in the first half before Kai Havertzdoubled the home side’s advantage 10 minutes after the interval.
But Villa responded just four minutes later through Youri Tielemans, with Ollie Watkins grabbing an equaliser for the visitors.
Arsenal’s title bid dealt a blow as Aston Villa hit back for a point
Manchester United hopeful of sealing Viktor Gyokeres deal despite Arsenal interest
Manchester United are hopeful of holding off competition for Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres to secure a deal in the summer.
Arsenal are understood to have raised the striker in discussions over a badly-needed forward signing for January, having brought forward plans from the summer after the ACL injury suffered by Gabriel Jesus.
Mikel Arteta this week admitted they are looking, and Gyokeres has been raised along with options such as Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Brighton's Evan Ferguson. Arsenal have not seriously pursued PSG's Randal Kolo Muani yet this window.
Man Utd hopeful of sealing Viktor Gyokeres deal despite Arsenal interest
Emery: "To get something here is very difficult"
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery told Sky Sports that he felt his side "competed well” today.
“To get something here is very difficult. To compete like we did is the only way. They were controling and pushing more [earlier on]. We had to defend strongly.
"The second half we reacted well. The mentality we showed is the mentality we want. We needed the goalkeeper, the defenders. We were always trying some transitions. Fantastic job. Now we are in good balance. We are fighting with really strong teams. How we started the second part of the season has been good.
"[We thought] scoring one goal could open the match for us and it did."
On being set to bring off Ollie Watkins before the goal: "Yes I wanted a change with a fresh player like Duran but after his goal I tried to take my time."
On being booked: "I don't know. I kicked the ball. I only kicked the ball in the direction of the players. I didn't deserve a yellow card."
Arteta says he is proud of performance
In his own post-match interview, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he is proud with how his side played.
“The way we played and competed, for the third time in six days and after playing 120-minutes, to deliver that dominance and performance, it was outstanding.
"We deserve much more, that is clear. But the way we defended for the second goal cannot be part of our game if we want to constantly win games.
"Overall, they were exceptional.
"There were players who were absolutely dead. They perform like this, wow. They just go about it and try to be the best version.
"Villa are a top side and we did a lot of good things."
FULL-TIME! Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins has scored six Premier League goals against Arsenal, with four of those coming at the Emirates Stadium. Since joining Aston Villa ahead of the 2020-21 season, no visiting player has scored more away goals against the Gunners than Watkins.
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