Arsenal let go of a two-goal lead on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.
In the opening 30 minutes of the cage, Arsenal fans feared their team's struggles in front of goal would catch up with them again here, but those worries were eased when Gabriel Martinelli stabbed home from close range late in the first half. Emiliano Martinez tried to save the shot on the goal line, but a noise on the referee's watch confirmed the goal.
Havertz doubled Arsenal's lead early in the second half with a smart finish from a Leandro Trossard cross, but Youri Tielemans' header halved the deficit almost immediately and Ollie Watkins' controlled volley saw both sides level on 20 minutes the last tied.
Arsenal thought they had won it late on when Mikel Merino's shot found its way into the back of the net, only for a VAR check to wave it away for a handball from Kai Havertz.
With Liverpool grabbing a late win over Brentford earlier in the day, the Gunners now find themselves six points adrift of the league leaders with a game in hand.
|
Player |
ASSESSMENT |
|---|---|
|
GC: David Raya |
5.5/10 |
|
RB: Thomas Partey |
7.3/10 |
|
CB: Jurrien Timber |
6.7/10 |
|
CB: Gabriel |
7.2/10 |
|
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly |
6.9/10 |
|
DM: Declan Rice |
7.3/10 |
|
CM: Mikel Merino |
8.1/10 |
|
CM: Martin Odegaard |
6.3/10 |
|
RW: Gabriel Martinelli |
7.0/10 |
|
ST: Kai Havertz |
7.5/10 |
|
LW: Leandro Trossard |
8.6/10 |
|
UNDER: Raheem Sterling (82' for Martinelli) |
N/A |
Subs not used: Neto (GK), Jakub Kiwior, Kieran Tierney, Maldini Kacurri, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho, Ismeal Kabia, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji
|
Player |
ASSESSMENT |
|---|---|
|
GC: Emiliano Martinez |
6.4/10 |
|
RB: Matty Cash |
6.9/10 |
|
CB: Ezri Konsa |
6.3/10 |
|
CB: Tyrone Mings |
6.1/10 |
|
LB: Ian Maatsen |
6.4/10 |
|
DM: Amadou Onana |
6.5/10 |
|
DM: Boubacar camera |
6.8/10 |
|
RM: Morgan Rogers |
5.9/10 |
|
AM: Youri Tielemans |
8.0/10 |
|
LM: Jacob Ramsey |
5.8/10 |
|
ST: Ollie Watkins |
7.4/10 |
|
UNDER: Lamare Bogarde (37' for Onana) |
6.7/10 |
|
UNDER: Lucas Digne (46' for Maatsen) |
7.6/10 |
|
UNDER: John Duran (79' for Watkins) |
6.2/10 |
|
UNDER: Leon Bailey (84' for Ramsey) |
N/A |
Subs not used: Joe Gauci (GK), Robin Olsen (GK), Kosta Nedeljkovic, Emiliano Buendia, Donyell Malen