Aston Villa v Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and reaction after Kai Havertz denied late equaliser
Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal: John McGinn’s early goal was enough for Unai Emery’s side as they moved to within two points of the top of the table
Aston Villa continued their remarkable home winning run with a gutsy 1-0 win over Arsenal that lifted Unai Emery’s side to within two points of the top of the Premier League table.
Having out-played Manchester City earlier in the week, Villa produced a performance of real defensive strength to hold on after John McGinn’s early goal. The tireless home captain was emblematic of an industrious performance as the visitors suffered a set back in their chase for the title.
Arsenal had been knocked off top spot by Liverpool’s win earlier on Saturday, and missed a series of chances to suffer just a second defeat of the season. With Mikel Arteta watching on from the stands due to a touchline ban, Kai Havertz’s late leveller was ruled out after referee Jarred Gillett deemed the ball to have brushed the midfielder’s hand just before he converted from close range.
And with Aston Villa now just a point behind their opponents after a 15th consecutive home league win, there will be growing belief among the Villa Park faithful that their team can continue to mix it with the established big boys.
Re-live all the action below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
FT: Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
Arsenal will feel that is a chance missed - they had their chances in the game, with Martin Odegaard guilty a couple of times of failing to hit the target and a lack of accuracy from others allowing other opportunities to slip by. You wonder if Mikel Arteta and his bird’s eye view might have some thoughts on the disallowed Kai Havertz goal.
But it didn’t quite click for Arteta’s team today.
FT: Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
15 home Premier League wins in a row - Aston Villa’s remarkable run goes on. Back-to-back wins over Manchester City and Arsenal, and Unai Emery’s side march onwards, now just a point behind their opponents. This was not the fluent display they produced in midweek but a win built on guts and grit, with a staunch defensive performance (and a brush of Kai Havertz’s hand) ensuring that John McGinn’s early goal was to be the only one of the game.
The home crowd jump along to Jeff Beck - their side are starting ro resemble genuine contenders.
Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal, 90 + 8 minutes
Headed over and he’s offside anyway! Aston Villa boldly keep a high line as Declan Rice comes forward, the midfielder picking out the right pass to Eddie Nketiah but finding an expert offside trap had snared the striker.
Nketiah’s headed effort is poor, anyway. Is that it?
Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal, 90 + 7 minutes
It’s getting hearted. Kai Havertz bashes into Emiliano Martinez unneccessarily after the goalkeeper collects a fruitless hoist forward, and Martinez reacts predictably, up to his feet and squaring up to the Germany international. The pair’s teammates arrive to calm things down as the home fans roar for the full-time whistle.
Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal, 90 + 6 minutes
Lenadro Trossard is squeezed out, the irrepressible John McGinn again the man to eventually steal it. The Aston Villa captain has been simply magnificent up and down that right flank.
Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal, 90 + 4 minutes
So I reckon we’ll be playing to near enough 100 minutes here. John McGinn leads an Aston Villa break as the hosts look to kill the game off, but none of he, Moussa Diaby or Leander Dendoncker can test David Raya with shooting opportunities as Arsenal scramble strongly.
Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal, 90 + 3 minutes
We are into five minutes of added time, but that will be considerably extended - not just for that long check, but also given Emiliano Martinez is in need of a plaster after taking a stray boot to the face.
Arsenal use the delay to make a change, with Reiss Nelson on for Oleksandr Zinchenko.
No goal! Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal, 89 minutes
Arsenal have the ball in the net but the referee’s whistle blows!
There’s a mighty mess as Kai Havertz and Matty Cash contest a cross in front of Emiliano Martinez, with Eddie Nketiah and Diego Carlos in close attention too. Has it brushed Havertz’s arm before the German knocks home from a metre?
My, this is a tough call. Jarred Gillett whistled immediately in real time, but VAR Michael Salisbury is nowhere near as certain. But it has just touched Havertz’s hand - and the on-field call is upheld. A mighty roar from the Aston Villa fans as they break away from biting their fingernails.
A top, top decision from Gillett.
Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal, 87 minutes
Aston Villa hurry the Arsenal defenders, Wiliam Saliba and then Gabriel put under pressure but showing their calm to extricate themselves from the situation.
Eddie Nketiah goes down off the ball - was that a naughty elbow from Diego Carlos? The defender is booked and the VAR will have a look...
A yellow is deemed sufficient. A stray arm to the face rather than anything more sinister.
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