
Arsenal's Premier League title bid was dealt a hammer blow after they surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa
However, the game at the Emirates was not without controversy.
Gabriel Martinelli fired the Gunners ahead in the first half before Kai Havertz doubled his side's lead 10 minutes after the break
But Villa, to their credit, responded just four minutes later through Youri Tielemans, with Ollie Watkins grabbing an equaliser eight minutes later.
Arsenal, who had seen Liverpool score twice in stoppage time to beat Brentford less than an hour before this game, thought they had won it when Havertz turned in Mikel Merino's shot with three minutes remaining
But the German international was adjudged to have used his arm as he turned the ball in, and VAR ruled out his goal, much to the frustration of Mikel Arteta.
In a statement, the Premier League released a statement explaining the thinking behind the decision.
The statement read:
“The Arsenal goal was awarded on-field. The VAR established that the ball hit Havertz's arm immediately before entering the goal and recommended that the goal was disallowed.”
Speaking about the decision after the game, Arsenal boss Arteta said:
"One angle it looks from the other it does not. The decision is made. Difficult as you have so much emotion and it is taken away. It is not easy."
Arteta added:
"In attack and defending, the level we are playing is so high. We were so good but there is something missing, that line is so thin.
"Today we cannot concede the no goals we have done. That line is so thin, we have been punished before and we cannot do it."
The Gunners are now six points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League table, having played a game more than Arne Slot's side
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