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Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa: Emery again the thorn as Gunners blow 2-0 lead at home

LONDON — Arsenal suffered a dispiriting draw at home to Aston Villa on Saturday, throwing away a two-goal lead before VAR denied it a winning goal in a 2-2 draw.

The Emirates Stadium thought it had seen a memorable win when Mikel Merino blasted a deflected shot home late after Villa undid a Gabriel Martinelli- and Kai Havertz-inspired 2-0 lead, but VAR ruled that the ball struck Havertz’s tucked-in arm en route to the goal.

MORE: Arsenal v Villa player ratings | WATCH FULL REPLAY

Arsenal’s 44 points are now six back of Liverpool, who have a game-in-hand atop the Premier League table.

It’s more magic for Unai Emery against his former side, as Ollie Watkins and Youri Tielemans scored to move Villa above Man City and into seventh place with 36 points.

Arteta undone, as Emery’s arose as his thorn — ‘We never give up’

That’s now a 2W-1D-2L record for Aston Villa in five tries against Arsenal under Unai Emery, and it has to taste so sweet for a masterful manager who cannot feel he was given enough time to shine in North London. The ex-Arsenal boss has his Villa side in the UEFA Champions League aside the Gunners, and he’s now dented their 2024-25 title hopes after putting a sword in their 2023-24 plans with a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium in Week 33.

Emery was buzzing.

“Fantastic, brilliant — the players how they reacted after the two goals,” Emery said after the game. “We competed like more or less we wanted, in the tactical way, how we can compete and mentality. We never give up, and the investment on the field was extraordinary. We tried to get one more, to get the game. They were pushing and created chances, but even like that, we had another two. Like Arsenal, they are powerful here at home. They don’t concede goals. And we did it.”

Arteta was fuming during the game when his team was winning, so how he responds in the post-match interviews should be an interesting read. Arsenal fought hard for three points, and will feel deeply stung by the dropped points. It will be difficult to recover from this, but the Gunners’ midweek action in the Champions League gives them a chance to start their rebound. West Ham follows in what’s always a feisty London derby. Game on.

Extended HLs: Arsenal v. Aston Villa Matchweek 22
Relive Arsenal's four-goal thriller against Aston Villa at the Emirates in Matchweek 22.

What’s next?

Arsenal host Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League, then go to Wolves at 10am ET Saturday in the Premier League.

Villa go to Monaco on Tuesday for UCL action. After that, they’ll host West Ham in the PL at 11:30am Sunday.


How to watch Arsenal vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday (January 18)
Venue: Emirates Stadium — London
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com


Arsenal vs Aston Villa score: 2-2

Martinelli 35', Havertz 55'; Tielemans 60', Watkins 68'


Arsenal vs Aston Villa live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright at Emirates Stadium

Full time — Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa

Unai Emery’s got that voodoo. Call it U-doo.

Mikel Merino goal disallowed! Martinez then makes thrilling save

Arsenal have it 3-2, or do they?!

Mikel Merino smashes a shot that turns off Kai Havertz to wrongfoot Emiliano Martinez.

It hits Havertz’s arm, which is tucked into his body but that doesn’t matter. It’s off the board, and controversial indeed.

Arsenal keep attacking and Emiliano Martinez makes two saves, one of them incredible, to keep it 2-2.

Subs

Raheem Sterling enters for Martinelli, minutes after Villa make a move with Jhon Duran replacing Watkins.

Watkins volleys home! What a comeback! — Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa

Ollie Watkins makes it 2-2! What a comeback That was coming. Cash’s brilliant cross finds Watkins unmarked at the back post and he volleys home off the bar and in. Partey totally switched off. The Emirates is stunned. Watkins was surely about to come off with Duran ready to come on before that cross came in. Duran has sat back down.

Watkins brings Aston Villa level at 2-2 v. Arsenal
Aston Villa have stormed back to level terms as Ollie Watkins blasts his side even at 2-2 with Arsenal at the Emirates.

It’s starting to get nervous here

The home fans are putting their hands on their heads every time Villa come forward on the break, which is now happening far too often for their liking. Villa have nothing to lose and Arsenal are reluctant to commit too many players forward. Intriguing final 20 minutes here. Don’t go anywhere!

Villa almost score again! Tielemans hits the post

It’s all Villa now. A low shot from the edge of the box from Tielemans flies just wide. What a game we have now.

Youri Tielemans gets Villa on the board — Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa

A brilliant cross from Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans’ diving header gets just enough of the ball to guide Merino’s touch into the goal.

Tielemans gives Aston Villa life against Arsenal
Aston Villa are not done yet as Youri Tielemans's diving header reduces their deficit to just one goal against Arsenal at the Emirates.

Havertz volleys home! — Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa

That is a brilliant Arsenal goal. Trossard with his second assist of the game and he whips in a brilliant cross that Havertz volleys home calmly. Arsenal cruising.

Havertz blasts Arsenal 2-0 in front of Aston Villa
Arsenal get a little daylight from Aston Villa as Leandro Trossard picks out Kai Havertz inside the box, where the German international drills his effort past Emi Martinez to make it 2-0.

Lewis-Skelly does so well but Digne clears his cross

Lovely run from Myles Lewis-Skelly and his cross is a good one but nobody attacks it. Lucas Digne hacks it away.

Digne on for Maatsen at half time and that’s sensible

Maatsen was really struggling with Martinelli’s pace and he was already on a yellow card. The youngster had a tough first half and the experienced French left back is on.

Half time: Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa

A pretty even first half but Arsenal being 1-0 up feels just about right. They started really well and Trossard and Martinelli have been really bright out wide. It was fitting those two combined for the goal. On a chilly night here at the Emirates, the home fans are feeling nice and warm and fuzzy as the half time whistle blows.

Trossard smashes just over the bar

Arsenal are piling on the pressure now. Trossard smashes over as the Gunners are pushing hard for a second. The game has swung heavily in their favor after a good spell for Villa. “Trossard again, ole, ole!” is the chant from the home fans. The Belgian has been superb in the first half.

Gabriel Martinelli squeezes it over the line! — Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa

That is a goal at a crucial time for Arsenal, as Trossard beats his man and whips in a great cross for Martinelli. His finish is saved by Martinez but the ball crossed the line and the Gunners have the lead. “1-0 to the Arsenal!” is the chant.

Martinelli slots home Arsenal's opener v. Villa
Arsenal find their breakthrough as Leandro Trossard's cross finds Gabriel Martinelli in front of goal, where the Brazilian's strike is initially saved but crosses the line to make it 1-0 at the Emirates.

Poor throw by Partey and Watkins almost lobs Raya

What is Thomas Partey doing there!? He throws is straight to Watkins, who lobs Raya who is off his line, but the ball flies over. That is really sloppy from the stand-in Arsenal right back.

Crowd has become subdued as Villa weather the storm

That early Arsenal pressure has calmed down a bit and Villa look comfortable. It’s a bit quiet here at the Emirates for now.

Maatsen booked for fouling Martinelli

The Brazilian winger is away and Maatsen brings him down as he pulls him back. Clear yellow card. As Graeme Le Saux says on our commentary, Maatsen is under pressure now for the rest of the game.

Martinez pushes away Trossard’s shot, then Gabriel denies Watkins as last man

Leandro Trossard cuts in and his shot is saved well by Martinez. Up the other end Watkins is almost in but Gabriel stands his ground well and makes a crucial tackle.

Good save from Raya as Villa finally wake up

A bit of possession for Villa, finally, and it ends in Maatsen charging into the box but his shot is well saved by Raya.

Arsenal should be ahead

Another corner causes chaos and Partey’s shot from close range is over. Partey clearly handled it just before he put it over, so wouldn’t have counted. Still, total domination from Arsenal early on.

Good save by Martinez to deny Martinelli!

A cross to the box post finds Martinelli who stretches and makes contact, but Martinez saves well and gathers the loose ball. Chants of ‘Arsenal, Arsenal!’ ring out. Positive start from the hosts.

Groans around the Emirates after Liverpool score twice

Just when it looked like Liverpool were going to drop two more points in the title race, Darwin Nunez popped up to score two goals and put them seven points clear of Arsenal. Let’s see how Arsenal respond...

No Saliba for Arsenal — Latest update from Arteta, here

The big team news from here in north London is that William Saliba misses out for Arsenal, with the club saying it is a ‘minor issue’ and Arteta confirming they are going to look into the issue more. Reports say he has ‘hamstring tightness’ after the derby win against Tottenham on Wednesday, so Timber slots over to center back and Partey moves to right back with Merino coming in to midfield. The only other changes is Martinelli in for Sterling on the right.

Arsenal lineup

Raya; Partey, Timber, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Merino, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard

Aston Villa lineup

Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Onana; Rogers, Tielemans; Watkins


Arsenal team news, focus

The Gunners are creating chances but they’re just not putting them away. Raheem Sterling started on the right against Spurs and worked hard but looked understandably rusty. Gabriel Martinelli will likely start on the right this weekend. Youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly was excellent at left back and will surely become their regular starter, while Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey put in a heck of a shift so maybe one or both of Jorginho and Mikel Merino come in to the starting lineup?

OUT: Gabriel Jesus (knee), Bukayo Saka (hamstring - MORE), Ethan Nwaneri (muscular - MORE), Ben White (knee), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Riccardo Calafiori (knee)

Aston Villa team news, focus

Ollie Watkins bagged the winner at Everton and he’s looking sharper and getting back to his best. Villa obviously miss John McGinn but they have so much quality in midfield and attack and new signing Donyell Malen is ready to make his debut.

OUT: John McGinn (hamstring), Pau Torres (ankle), Ross Barkley (calf), Diego Carlos (foot)

Arsenal vs Aston Villa prediction

This will be a tight, tense game at the Emirates and if Villa grab an early goal on the counter it will be very tough for Arsenal. That said, the Gunners are grinding it out at the moment and will probably pop up with a set-piece winner. Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa preview

The Gunners beat Tottenham 2-1 in the north London derby on Wednesday as they continue to chip away at Liverpool’s lead. Arteta’s side once again created so many chances against Spurs but were wasteful and if they can become more clinical then Arne Slot and Liverpool will be feeling a lot more concerned about their title dreams. With key attacking injuries hampering Arteta’s options in attack, Arsenal do look strong defensively and in midfield and keeping that solidity is how they will win the title this season.

Aston Villa have got themselves back on track in recent weeks with Unai Emery’s side securing three-straight wins in all competitions, including back-to-back wins in the Premier League as they won 1-0 at Everton on Wednesday. Emery has enjoyed recent games against Arsenal and Villa should have got something at home against the Gunners earlier this season and their win at Arsenal towards the end of last season essentially cost Arsenal the title. Will we see another Emery away day masterclass to boost Villa’s top four hopes?