Arsenal saw a two-goal advantage slip away on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Aston Villa, dealing a blow to their Premier League title aspirations.
The first 30 minutes were marked by cautious play, leaving Arsenal fans anxious about their team’s recent struggles in front of goal. However, Gabriel Martinelli eased those worries late in the first half, stabbing the ball over the line despite Emiliano Martinez’s efforts to save it. Goal-line technology confirmed the opener.
Early in the second half, Kai Havertz doubled the lead with a composed finish from a Leandro Trossard cross. However, Aston Villa hit back quickly as Youri Tielemans scored with a diving header to halve the deficit. Moments later, Ollie Watkins leveled the score with a well-controlled volley.
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Arsenal thought they had secured a dramatic winner when Mikel Merino’s strike found the net, but VAR intervened, disallowing the goal for a handball by Havertz in the buildup.
With Liverpool edging out Brentford earlier in the day, Arsenal now trail the league leaders by six points, having played one game more.