Arsenals late collapse costs them valuable points in 2-2

Arsenal’s hopes of closing the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool were dealt a painful blow on Sunday as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Aston Villa. Despite leading 2-0 with just over 20 minutes left to play, Arsenal allowed Villa to come back, leaving Liverpool with a six-point advantage and a game in hand.

Arsenal's early dominance fades

Arsenal knew they had to secure all three points after Liverpool had narrowly defeated Brentford 2-0 earlier in the day. Mikel Arteta’s side started the match with determination, but despite having much of the possession, the first half lacked clear-cut opportunities. The first 30 minutes saw little action, with both teams having occasional moments of threat. Maatsen was booked for a tactical foul, and Arteta also received a yellow card for his protests to the referee. It wasn’t until just before the half-hour mark that Arsenal broke the deadlock. Leandro Trossard sent in a cross from the left, and Gabriel Martinelli was quick to scramble the ball past Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. The referee deemed the ball had crossed the line, and Arsenal led 1-0.

A dramatic second half

The second half was a complete turnaround, with the match turning into a thrilling spectacle. Arsenal seemed to be cruising to victory when Kai Havertz, on the end of another Trossard assist, made it 2-0. Villa appeared down and out, but the visitors responded in dramatic fashion. Aston Villa pulled a goal back when Lucas Digne delivered a perfect cross, and Youri Tielemans headed the ball past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to make it 2-1. Tielemans almost equalized moments later, hitting the post, signaling that Villa wasn’t finished yet. The Belgian’s close miss gave Villa hope, and they quickly took advantage.

Villa's comeback and Watkins’ equalizer

With momentum on their side, Villa continued to press, and Ollie Watkins was at the center of their equalizer. The Villa striker, who has been in fine form this season, scored his ninth Premier League goal of the campaign with a precise shot after a brilliant cross from Matty Cash. Aston Villa was not content with just the draw and looked for a winner. Unai Emery made a late substitution, bringing on Jhon Durán in place of Watkins, while also introducing Léon Bailey. However, Donyell Malen, who had been expected to make his debut, was not called upon, much to the surprise of many.

Arsenal's last-gasp attempt denied

As the match neared its conclusion, Arsenal thought they had regained the lead in dramatic fashion. A loose ball fell to Mikel Merino, who hammered a shot towards goal, only for it to deflect off Havertz and into the net. However, the goal was disallowed after the referee determined Havertz had handled the ball in the process, denying Arsenal the victory they had hoped for.

The draw leaves Liverpool in a stronger position

The match ended 2-2, and with that result, Liverpool found themselves in a stronger position at the top of the table. Arsenal will be disappointed with how they let the game slip away, having been in complete control for large stretches of the match. The draw leaves Arteta’s men with a six-point gap to the leaders, and they will need to regroup quickly if they are to stay in the title race. For Aston Villa, the comeback will be seen as a massive result. While they were fortunate in some instances, they showed tremendous resilience and will take pride in their ability to fight back after going 2-0 down. Arsenal’s defensive lapses will be a major concern for Arteta, as they look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.

Looking ahead

Arsenal will now turn their focus to their next fixture, where they will need to secure a win to keep their title hopes alive. Meanwhile, Brighton will take pride in earning a point against one of the Premier League’s top teams, as they continue their strong campaign under Roberto De Zerbi.