Arsenal’s title bid dealt a blow as Aston Villa hit back for a point
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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 Havertz doubled 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. A shell-shocked Arsenal went in search of a winner following Watkins’ 68th-minute strike, and Havertz thought he had found it when he turned in Mikel Merino’s shot with three minutes remaining.
But Havertz was adjudged to have used his arm as he turned the ball in, and VAR ruled out his goal. Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery engineered a 2-0 win for Aston Villa here in April which effectively ended the Gunners’ championship challenge. And the Spaniard came back to haunt his old club again with a comeback draw which leaves Arsenal on the back foot and six points behind Liverpool following their late win at Brentford.
Arsenal have also been rocked by another high-profile injury – this time to defender William Saliba – with the defender ruled out of Saturday’s fixture. Villa were unable to get a foothold early on in the match, but the visitors rode the initial storm and it was Emery’s men with the first shot on target as Ian Maatsen’s effort was punched clear by David Raya.
