Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes suffered another blow as they blew a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.
The Gunners had their best performance for an hour thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz in the first half, but Villa equalized the game with two goals in eight minutes.
Youri Tielemans headed home after a Havertz goal and Watkins scored his sixth goal of his career against Arsenal to get the visitors back in the game.
Mikel Merino thought he had scored the winner five minutes into the game, but the goal was canceled out by VAr after hitting Havertz’s hand on the way.
The draw left Arsenal six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, while United’s 2-0 win at Brentford in the second half saw Villa rise above Manchester City to seventh.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Arsenal started on the front foot but it was Villa who proved the more dangerous on the counter-attack, with Watkins deploying at centre-back at every opportunity.
Everyone was talking when Thomas Partey lobbed the ball straight at the Villa striker, who attempted a lob to David Raya but could not find the goal.
But the Gunners celebrated the moment the ball crossed the line after Martinelli provided the final touch to Leandro Trossard’s cross and Emiliano Martinez did well to save the first-time shot.
Gabriel Martinelli opens the scoring for North London with a cross from Leandro Trossard! sold out pic.twitter.com/HOhHh9cxJK
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 18, 2025
The home side continued to dictate play after the break and in the 55th minute, despite Martinez’s best efforts in the Villa goal, Trossard again asserted complete control when he gave the ball away on the left for Havertz to find the net. I did it.
Leandro Trossard found Kai Havertz in the box to double Arsenal’s lead
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— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 18, 2025
Arsenal were shocked by Villa’s return.
However, Villa responded immediately when the outstanding Lucas Digne headed in Youri Tielemans’ goal, but the visitors were soon back in the game.
Youri Tielemans heads home Lucas Digne’s cross to score one goal for Villa!
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— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 18, 2025
And the Belgian midfielder thought he had equalized when he hit the post after another slick break involving Watkins and Jacob Ramsey.
But it wasn’t long before Villa silenced the Emirates when Watkins volleyed home a first-time shot from Matty Cash’s left-footed cross.
Ollie Watkins’ incredible finish to equalize against Aston Villa at the Emirates
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— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 18, 2025
Merino thought they had secured a thumping win for the title chasers, but to the disappointment of most inside the Emirates, the goal was immediately canceled out after the ball deflected out of Havertz’s hands.
Soon after, Emiliano Martinez made two excellent saves to deny Trossard and Merino as the game entered extra time.