The Gunners take a two-goal lead as title hopes take another blow


Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes were dealt another blow as they overturned a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa.

The Gunners were in front for the better part of an hour thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz either side of the break, but Villa scored twice in eight minutes to level the game.

Youri Tielemans headed home moments after Havertz’s goal before Watkins scored his sixth career goal against Arsenal put the visitors back in the game.

Mikel Merino thought he had scored with five minutes remaining, but VAr ruled out the goal after hitting Havertz’s hand in the pass.

The draw leaves Arsenal six points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League after the Reds secured a late 2-0 win at Brentford, with Villa moving above Manchester City into the seventh place

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Arsenal started on the front foot but it was Villa who proved more of a threat on the counter-attack with Watkins stretching the centre-backs at every opportunity.

Hearts were in their collective mouths when Thomas Partey fired the ball straight at the Villa striker, who failed to find the net with his effort past David Raya.

But it was the Gunners who celebrated moments later when Martinelli put the finishing touch on Leandro Trossard’s cross, the ball just crossing the line after Emiliano Martínez had done well to save the initial shot.

The home side continued to dictate proceedings after the break and took full control in the 55th minute when Trossard again fed the ball from the left for Havertz to find the net despite Martínez’s efforts in the Villa goal.

Villa’s comeback surprises Arsenal

But Villa responded instantly when a brilliant Lucas Digne was headed home by Youri Tielemans, but it put the visitors back in the game.

And the Belgian midfielder thought he had leveled moments later when he hit the post after another break between Watkins and Jacob Ramsey.

But not long after, Villa were level when Matty Cash’s left-footed cross found Watkins who hit a first-time volley to silence the Emirates.

Merino thought he had scored a huge winner for the title chasers but, to the dismay of most at the Emirates, the goal was well-marked after the ball deflected off Havertz’s hand.

Soon after, Emiliano Martínez produced two outstanding saves to deny Trossard and Merino as the game entered added time.





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