Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa: Gunners fall six points behind Liverpool as Villa fight back amid VAR drama | Football News

Arsenal had a late goal ruled out by VAR as Aston Villa recovered from two goals down to claim a dramatic 2-2 draw which leaves the Gunners six points behind leaders Liverpool.

Arsenal thought they had won it when Mikel Merino’s shot bounced into the net off Kai Havertz in the 88th minute but VAR intervened, ruling the ball to have hit Havertz’s hand and overturning the goal.

Arsenal were under pressure to win after Liverpool’s late victory at Brentford but Villa, whose win at the Emirates Stadium in April wrecked the Gunners’ title chances last term, inflicted another severe blow to their hopes.

The Gunners appeared to be cruising to victory as Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz scored either side of half-time, with goal-line technology needed to award the opener, but Villa fought back.

Youri Tielemans sparked their recovery when he bravely headed home a wicked cross from substitute Lucas Digne. Ollie Watkins then punished poor defending from the hosts, who were without William Saliba due to injury, to equalise only eight minutes later.

The Gunners pushed for a winner in a frenzied finale and thought they had it when Merino’s shot deflected off Havertz and beyond Martinez but VAR’s intervention left the home fans dejected.

Arsenal created a string of further chances, with Merino striking the post and Leandro Trossard sending the follow-up straight at Emiliano Martinez, before Trossard spurned a golden chance deep in stoppage time when he dragged wide when played in on goal.

The draw leaves Arsenal six points behind Arne Slot’s side knowing the gap could be extended to nine points if Liverpool win their game in hand. Villa, meanwhile, move above Manchester City into seventh.

WATCH: The key moments

Analysis: Are Arsenal’s title hopes over?

It remains to be seen how costly this could be for Arsenal but the deflated mood inside the Emirates Stadium told a tale. So did the dejection of the home players as they made their way off the pitch.

Arsenal still have 16 games left to play, of course. But Liverpool have 17 and they are already six points clear. It is a huge gap, as it stands, and the worry is that will only get wider.

The Gunners only lost nine points from winning positions last season, the second-lowest total in the Premier League. But their collapse against Villa means their total for the current campaign already stands at 12.

It is a worrying statistic for a side which has developed a reputation for defensive resilience under Mikel Arteta and there are issues in attack too, where chances continue to be spurned.

There may be twists still to come in this race but Arsenal, depleted by injuries, with Saliba now added to the absentee list, are giving off the air of a side struggling to keep up.

Arteta on disallowed goal: ‘The decision is made’

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta did not want to dwell on the decision to rule out Arsenal’s 88th-minute goal but admitted it was tough to take.

“One angle it looks [like handball]from the other it does not,” he told Sky Sports. “The decision is made. It’s difficult. You have so much emotion and it is taken away. It is not easy.”

On Arsenal’s performance, he said he felt “pride”, adding: “The way we played and competed, for the third time in six days and after playing 120 minutes [against Manchester United on January 12]to deliver that dominance and performance was outstanding.

“We deserve much more, that is clear. But the way we defended for the second goal cannot be part of our game if we want to constantly win games.

“Overall, we were exceptional. There were players who were absolutely dead. They perform like this, wow. They just go about it and try to be the best version.”

Merson: Arsenal made schoolboy errors

Speaking on Saturday Night Football, Sky Sports pounds Paul Merson bemoaned the defensive errors by Arsenal which led to Aston Villa’s goals.

“They’re schoolboy errors,” he said. It’s not like teams are opening them up.

“Those goals could have been stopped today. I don’t care what division you are in, those two goals can be stopped if you do your job.

“All you’re asking for as a manager is for the players to go out there on that pitch and do their job.

“Today certain players let Arteta down. I don’t think that’s because the squad is shallow because today we saw two big mistakes – Merino lets Tielemans run off him and honestly, I cannot believe what I have just watched with Partey [leaving Watkins free to score the equaliser].”

Emery: I didn’t deserve a card!

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has claimed he did not deserve his yellow card during the clash against Arsenal.

The Villa boss was handed his third caution of the season for kicking a ball on the touchline during the 2-2 draw with his former side and will now sit in the stands for the upcoming clash against West Ham on January 26, live on Sky Sports.

“I don’t know. I kicked the ball! I only kicked the ball in the direction of the players. You’re smiling!

“Next match I am out, okay. I can see it. I didn’t deserve a yellow card.”

On his side’s display, he added: “They competed well and to get something here has been difficult.

“They were controlling and pushing more to us. The second half after the goals, we reacted very well. The mentality we showed is the mentality I want.”

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