Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins once again caused problems for Arsenal, scoring the equalizer that secured a 2-2 draw in their Premier League clash on Saturday.
Arsenal seemed poised to avenge last season’s home defeat to Villa—their last league loss at The Emirates—with goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz on either side of halftime putting them in control.
A win would have cut Arsenal’s gap to league leaders Liverpool to four points.
However, Villa fought back, with Youri Tielemans heading home on the hour mark to spark their revival.
Watkins then connected with a Matty Cash cross, firing a volley into the net to level the score in the 68th minute.
The match ended in a dramatic finale. Arsenal appeared to have clinched victory when Mikel Merino’s shot deflected off Havertz and into the goal, but the effort was disallowed for handball.
Arsenal remain on 44 points, trailing Liverpool’s 50, with Liverpool having a game in hand.
Villa, meanwhile, climbed to seventh place in the table.
