Belgian forward, Leon Trossard was the catalyst again as the Gunners made it 2-0 – this time he collected the ball and took his time up against Matty Cash before creating the space to send a deadly ball in for Kai Havertz to volley in.
Less than five minutes later, though, Youri Tielemans got his head to a fantastic cross from substitute Lucas Digne to send it beyond Raya. The Belgian midfielder came close to tying it up a minute later but his shot hit the post. On both occasions, he left Mikel Merino scrambling – and failing – to stop him.
Villa weren’t done there. In the 68th minute, Cash’s cross flew just over Havertz’s head and dropped to Watkins in loads of space at the back post to lash in the equaliser.
Arsenal pushed to regain their lead and thought they had won the game when Merino, who had been useless for much of the contest, sent the ball bouncing into the net, but VAR intervened to disallow the goal for a handball from Havertz.
Merino came close yet again in stoppage time but ended up hitting the post and then Trossard fluffed his lines as he went through on goal.
Villa were able to hold on from there and collect a point, leaving Arsenal six behind a Liverpool team who boast a game in hand.
Arsenal’s collapse leaves them with one win from their last five matches in all competitions, while they now trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by six points, though Arne Slot’s men have a game in hand. The manner of their surrender against Emery’s men, Merson says, sums up why they will not win the English crown again this season.
The Gunners are in action again in midweek when they meet Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. That will be followed by a Premier League trip to Wolves on January 25
