Arsenal’s hopes of catching Premier League leaders Liverpool were dealt a major blow on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.
The Gunners were two goals up thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, but a quick double from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins turned the game on its head after the break to leave Arsenal six points behind Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.
How the match unfolded
Martinelli gave the visitors an early scare with an acrobatic volley, as well as a number of early Arsenal corners. It took some time for Villa to settle, but David Raya was soon called upon to save Ian Maatsen’s powerful shot from close range.
Arsenal did a good job of controlling possession in the first half, but their constant struggles to create chances continued as Villa’s stiff backline comfortably rejected everything sent their way inside the first 30 minutes.
Ten minutes before the break, Arsenal finally stepped up. Martinelli wickedly crossed Leandro Trossard towards goal, who was allowed to escape in celebration when goal-line technology confirmed that Emiliano Martinez’s desperate attempts to clear the ball had failed.
Trossard was the architect for Arsenal’s second shortly after the break. After teeing up Matty Cash, his excellent cross was met by a clever Havertz volley that flew away from Martinez in the blink of an eye and into the net to give the Gunners some breathing room.
Villa got back into the game soon after. Lucas Digne’s wonderful cross from deep was met by the onrushing Tielemans, who headed beyond Ray to restart the game as a contest, and the Belgian could have easily equalized just seconds later when his controlled shot hit the outside of the post.
Villa sensed an opening and Watkins took it with 20 minutes to go. Cash redeemed himself with a brilliant cross of his own towards the Villa striker, who volleyed under the crossbar to set up a fascinating finish.
Arsenal looked set to grab a late winner as Mikel Merino headed the rebound into the net, but a quick VAR check revealed the ricochet came off Havertz’s arm to bring the score back to 2-2.
Merino hit the post in stoppage time as Arsenal pushed for the winner they needed to keep pace with Premier League leaders Liverpool, while the electric Trossard sent a shot that dribbled agonizingly wide of Martinez’s goal, but there was no reward for Arsenal’s effort as are six points behind Arne Slot’s team.
See Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa player ratings here.
When Havertz flew off in celebration for Arsenal’s second goal, it looked all but done and dusted. The Gunners looked comfortable and don’t have a reputation for throwing away leads at home.
How Arsenal allowed Villa to get back up to par needs to be examined. The visitors did not offer anything before the hour mark, when with a series of smart crosses they relatively easily broke through the most vicious defense of the Premier League.
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes crumbled against Villa last season. Although it is too early for such comparisons this time, there is no denying that this one will hurt Arteta.
There was cause for concern when the team sheet appeared and William Saliba was nowhere to be found. He is French struggling with, as Mikel Arteta claims, a minor injuryso it was Jurrien Timber who joined Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
Both Gabriel and Timber enjoyed some clean individual moments against Watkins, but as the clock ticked down, there was confusion among Arsenal’s back line. Two Villa crosses were allowed to drift behind them as the Gunners gave the visitors a way back into the game.
A composed, physical presence like Salibina was clearly missing, and Arsenal had to suffer without their rock at the back.
The loss of Bukaya Saka, followed by an ACL injury to Gabriel Jesus, has led to a number of questions about those left in Arsenal’s forward line, the main question being whether any of those still standing are really capable of inspiring a title challenge.
Trossard clearly took this personally, delivering a brutally impressive performance in which he tormented Matty Cash from start to finish.
The Belgian’s devilish crosses were too much for Villa to handle and he deservedly walked away with two impressive assists, and came inches from winning for his side with a late strike that went narrowly wide of Martinez’s far post.
READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, RUMORS AND GOSSIP
