Arsenal lose further ground on Liverpool after bitter 2-2 draw with Aston Villa

By Alessandro Schiavone at Emirates

Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa

Goals: Martinelli 35' (A), Havertz 55' (A), Tielemans 60' (AV), Watkins

Arsenal have dropped two further points in their title quest after being pegged back by Aston Villa despite a 2-0 lead.

Gabriel Martinelli gave the zestful Gunners the lead when he connected well with Martin Odegaard's cross. Kai Havertz, who came under fire after a string of poor games recently, doubled his side's lead with a well-taken volley on the turn after the interval. Belgian Trossard was again the provider.

But the hosts unfathomably switched off and it took Unai Emery's men only eight second-half minutes to erase their lead through a Youri Tielemans header on the-hour mark and Ollie Watkins' composed volley in off the crossbar.

Mikel Arteta's side could have won it late on but Kai Havertz's goal was chalked off. VAR ruled that the ex-Leverkusen star handled Mikel Merino's effort with a decisive change of direction that wrong-footed Emiliano Martinez following. The Spaniard himself then hit the post before two-assist hero Trossard was repelled by Emiliano Martinez at his near-post.

The lively Tielemans also saw an effort fizzle just wide. Arsenal deserved more but Aston Villa haven't stolen this point.

The pertinent question is: where would Arsenal be if they had a world-class centre-forward? Most likely not six points behind pacesetters Liverpool having played a game more. They simply can't fashion a myriad of chances in each game and reap so little rewards.

Asked who of the two sides went home happier, Arteta told Capital Football: "I am not happy, I cannot talk about the rest. The difference between the two teams was very obvious."