Arsenal vs Aston Villa LIVE: Result from the Emirates as visitors come from 2-0 down to draw | OneFootball

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Sol Campbell pokes fun at infamous Spurs-Arsenal switch

Arsenal let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 against Aston Villa on Saturday night, as the Gunners once again lost ground to Liverpool in the title race.

The hosts started the match quickly, squandering chances early on, but they were deservedly ahead at the break as Gabriel Martinelli bundled in Leandro Trossard’s cross at the back post.

The second half started in a similar fashion, and the pressure paid off after another excellent cross from Trossard allowed Kai Havertz to volley in for 2-0.

Arsenal looked like strolling towards a straightforward win at that point, only to fall asleep and allow Lucas Digne to swing in a brilliant cross that Youri Tielemans dived to head in.

Villa’s pressure then told as Ollie Watkins volleyed in Matty Cash’s cross to equalise late on.

There was still room for more drama at the Emirates as Mikel Merino’s effort was disallowed after hitting Havertz’s hand on the way in, but the points were shared in a match that could prove pivotal in the title race.

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The Arsenal substitution that helps explain their crumbling title bid

Mikel Arteta waited 84 minutes to make a substitution in this match, and when he finally broke glass, his only tool was a decidedly blunt Raheem Sterling. For all Sterling’s known talents, he is a 30-year-old winger of fading impact and it was enough to wonder whether the player he was replacing, an utterly knackered Gabriel Martinelli, might still have been the better option as the minutes ticked away.

Arsenal’s lack of depth right now doesn’t entirely explain how they contrived to draw this game 2-2, having led 2-0 after an hour, as mighty chunks of their title bid crumbled away. Aston Villa deserve plenty of credit. But it was conspicuous that where Arteta made only one substitution, just minutes before kick-off here, Liverpool had snatched victory at Brentford thanks to a £60m substitute, Darwin Nunez, one of five luxury second-half changes by Arne Slot.

Football in the five-subs era is now a new game of two halves: the first hour, in which the first XIs play; and the final 30 minutes plus added time when half of the outfield players change, when tactics shift and identities morph and games are won and lost.

The Arsenal substitution that explains their crumbling title bid

Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa: Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz fired the Gunners in front but Villa fought back through goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins in eight second-half minutes

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Chris Wilson18 January 2025 21:46

FULL-TIME! Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa

Ollie Watkins has scored six Premier League goals against Arsenal, with four of those coming at the Emirates Stadium. Since joining Aston Villa ahead of the 2020-21 season, no visiting player has scored more away goals against the Gunners than Watkins.

Chris Wilson