Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa LIVE RESULT: Gunners fail to close gap at the top as Villans secure point after superb comeback

Match report

If this is the night when Arsenal’s title hopes died, then Ollie Watkins has been their gravedigger again.

But the death sentence might have been passed by Stockley Park.

With less than two minutes to go the Emirate erupted as Mikel Merino’s hopeful effort from the edge of the box took a big deflection to find its way past Emi Martinez and put Mikel Arteta’s men back ahead in a game they had tossed away.

Yet Merino, pointedly, did not celebrate.

He knew what Jon Brooks in the VAR booth near Heathrow was going to tell ref Chris Kavanagh - that the final, vital touch to deceive Martinez had come, albeit accidentally, off Kai Havertz’ right arm.

The referee had no choice but to disallow the goal - and while Merino hit the post in added time, there was to be no reprieve.

Arsenal 2 Aston Villa 2

Arsenal defence throws away two-goal lead and deal title blow

'Formula'

Opta report that Arsenal have scored more goals than any other Premier League side from CROSSES this season.

And Trossard's assist double both came from crosses - only the second time in the league that's happened this season.

They tweeted from OptaJoe: "Arsenal have scored more goals from crosses than any other team in the Premier League this season (11), while Leandro Trossard is one of only two players to assist 2+ goals via crosses in a game this season (also Damsgaard v Wolves in October). Formula."

Up next

Both sides turn their attention to Champions League duty in midweek.

Then it's back to league business next weekend with very winnable games, with the Gunners at Wolves and Villa hosting West Ham.

'Disappointing day'

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli says his side need to improve for upcoming games after their second half collapse.

He told Sky Sports: "It's a disappointing day. We wanted to win the game, but we have to keep going.

"We trust in ourselves, and we have to keep going and improving - it is a long journey to go. We have to focus on ourselves.

"That's football, that's the Premier League, the most difficult league in the world. We have to see the game and see what we have done wrong and improve for the next games.

"We know our qualities and we know the potential we have and we trust in ourselves."

Youri not kidding

Youri Tielemans reckons Aston Villa were well worth their point.

He told the BBC: "From our point of view [a good result] is always deserved. We take the point and move forward. They had many chances but we defended with our bodies on the line.

"2-2 is a good result for us. First half we had a couple of counters, misplaced passes from me which could have put Ollie Watkins in.

"We fought really well to come back into the game."

Forward ratings

LEANDRO TROSSARD – 8: Deflected effort was comfortable for Martinez but his superb cross made life much harder for the Villa keeper to tee up Martinez for the opener before blazing over himself. The Belgian racked up his fifth Prem assist of the season in the second half for Havertz.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 8: Threatened at the far post early on, but got his rewards from the same position in the 35^th minute with a stabbed effort ahead of Maatsen.

KAI HAVERTZ – 8: Again, lack of decent service left him living off scraps, but when he got a scrap he fired an effort straight at Martinez from close range. The German more than made up for it after the break with a clinical finish, even if Martinez should have done better. That will do wonders for his confidence.

Midfielder ratings

MIKEL MERINO – 6: A workman-like performance – won his duels and worked his socks off, but the small details were missing, shanking a good chance well wide in the first half. He then lost his marker to allow Tielemans to head in and make it 2-1. Could have won it at the end with a scuffed effort in off Havertz that VAR chalked off and smacked the post too.

DECLAN RICE – 7: Integral to everything good about Arsenal and came close with a long-range punt in the second half.

MARTIN ODEGAARD – 6: A solid display but he is really missing his partner in crime in Saka. He created as much as he could but sometimes needs to be more selfish to drag his team over the line.

Player ratings

Here's how SunSport's Jordan Davies scored the Gunners players tonight, starting with the defenders:

DAVID RAYA – 6: Let down by those in front of him for both goals, a duo of close range efforts he had no chance with.

MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 8: With performances like this, he is suddenly the first name on the team sheet for Arteta. So calm and composed for someone so young, and his strength against bigger opposition is scary at times.

GABRIEL – 7: Made a crucial tackle one-on-one with Watkins and another block from a speedy counter

JURRIEN TIMBER – 7: Alert to foil counters against the pace of Watkins and coped well in general. It is not his fault that he doesn’t have the defensive presence of Saliba.

The damage

Here's how the top of the Premier League table looks after today's results.

Liverpool started the day four points clear with a game in hand - they're now SIX clear with that game in hand still.

Nottingham Forest with the chance to move level on points with Arsenal if they beat Southampton at home tomorrow.

The battle for top four looks set to be a good one too!