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:
HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa
HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa
The referee brings the first half to an end, and the hosts lead at the break at the Emirates. A deserved lead, just about.
Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa
47 min: Arsenal win a late corner after Mings has to clear from Martinelli’s counter-attack. It’ll be the last action of the half.
Odegaard delivers – and it’s headed away.
Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa
45 min: A few breaks in play as we head towards half-time, and they’ve taken the rhythm out of the game. There’ll be two minutes of added time.
Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa
42 min: Havertz wants a penalty for a Konsa handball but he had pushed the England man, and Villa are awarded a free-kick.
Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa
41 min: Arsenal continue to dominate at the Emirates This time, Partey threads a pass into an unmarked Merino, but he can only curl his shot wide of the far post.
Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa
37 min: There was some more immediate bad news for Villa as Onana was forced to come off injured, and he’s replaced by Lamare Bogarde.
Moments later, the hosts have another half-chance but it was offside as it was lashed over the bar.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa
35 min: GOAL! Great goal for the hosts, as Trossard picks the ball up on the left and creates the space for the cross, firing it in between the ‘keeper and defenders. Martinelli is there to poke it goalwards, and it is right at Martinez, but he can’t keep it out, eventually knocking it over the line!
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
34 min: Some superb carrying from Morgan Rogers ends with him putting the ball into the path of Watkins again, but the striker’s shot is blocked.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
32 min: Partey is a lucky man. He takes a throw midway into his own half but inexplicably throws it straight into the path of Watkins.
The England striker spots Raya off his line and tries to hook an effort over him, but it goes over! He’s let them off there.
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