Arsenal squanders lead against Aston Villa, 2-2

Arsenal's Premier League title aspirations took a hit after they squandered a two-goal lead, settling for a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa at the Emirates. Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz initially put Arsenal in control, but Villa responded with goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins, the latter equalizing in the 68th minute. Arsenal thought they had snatched a late winner through Mikel Merino, but the goal was disallowed by VAR due to an accidental handball by Havertz. This result leaves Arsenal six points behind league leaders Liverpool, who secured a dramatic late victory against Brentford. The absence of key defender William Saliba, who was ruled out prior to the match, significantly impacted Arsenal's defensive stability. Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery's Villa once again proved a challenging opponent, echoing their previous successes over the Gunners last season.