Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa: Player ratings as Gunners' title hopes handed huge blow | OneFootball

Arsenal let a two-goal lead slip on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.

A cagey first 30 minutes had Arsenal fans fearing their team's struggles in front of goal would take over again here, but those concerns were eased when Gabriel Martinelli stabbed home from close range late in the first half. Emiliano Martinez scrambled to save the shot on the goal-line but a buzz on the referee's watch confirmed the goal.

Havertz doubled Arsenal's advantage early in the second half with a smart finish from a Leandro Trossard cross, but Youri Tielemans' diving header halved the deficit almost immediately and Ollie Watkins' controlled volley saw the two sides head into the final 20 minutes all tied up.

Arsenal thought they had won it late on when Mikel Merino's strike found its way into the back of the net, only for a VAR check to chalk it off for a handball from Kai Havertz.

With Liverpool snatching a late win over Brentford earlier in the day, the Gunners now find themselves six points adrift of the league leaders having played one game more.

Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)

Trossard impressed out wide / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used: Neto (GK), Jakub Kiwior, Kieran Tierney, Maldini Kacurri, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho, Ismeal Kabia, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji

Aston Villa player ratings (4-2-3-1)

Tielemans headed home for Villa / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used: Joe Gauci (GK), Robin Olsen (GK), Kosta Nedeljkovic, Emiliano Buendia, Donyell Malen