Arsenal watched their Premier League title hopes take a devastating blow when Aston Villa came back from a two-goal deficit to force a shocking 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium. This was a fifth undefeated match in seven fixtures for Unai Emery against his former club.
After watching Liverpool move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League earlier in the day, the Gunners knew they needed a positive response against a Villa side that is in-form.
Arsenal threatened an early breakthrough when Gabriel Martinelli watched Emiliano Martinez spoil a close-range effort, while Ian Maatsen’s strong drive was stopped by David Raya.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued as the first half progressed, and after Ollie Watkins rejected a good chance for Aston, Arsenal snapped the deadlock in the 35th minute.
Leandro Trossard, passed a remarkable cross to Martinelli, who passed Maatsen and sent the ball home to score his seventh goal of the season.
Mikel Arteta’s squad carried that into the early stages of the second half and soon they topped off their lead, with Kai Havertz converting from another inch-perfect Trossard delivery.
Resolute, the guests split the deficit when Youri Tielemans timed his run to bury Lucas Digne’s cross into the bottom corner. Tielemans hit the post a minute later as Villa was on the edge of an incredible turnaround.
Villa equalised the scores with 22 minutes left, as Watkins was unmarked at the back post to score using Matty Cash’s pass. Both clubs were ready for the grand finale as they chased a late winner, and Arsenal thought they had it in the 88th minute, only for Mikel Merino’s strike to be ruled out due to a handball by Havertz.
The Gunners stayed menacing, as Merino scored in stoppage time, but Aston stood their ground to claim a share of the points.
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