It was déjà vu for the Gunners at home to Aston Villa as Arsenal slipped in the title race during Saturday’s 2-2 draw in the capital.
Shortly after Darwin Nunez’s injury time double stole an invaluable three points for league leaders Liverpool at Brentford, Arsenal failed to keep the pressure on and dropped two crucial points.
In similar fashion to last season’s clash at the Emirates when Villa won 2-0 and cost Arsenal their first league title in two decades, this time it was a frustrating draw which leaves Liverpool with a six-point advantage at the top including a game in hand.
Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring before half-time and Kai Havertz doubled Arsenal’s lead after 55 minutes but Youri Tielemans quickly pulled one back on the hour mark for the visitors to keep things interesting.
Eight minutes later, the scores were level through Ollie Watkins and the stadium groaned in displeasure as Arsenal blew a golden opportunity once again at the hands of former manager Unai Emery.
The Emirates faithful thought they’d nicked the win on the stroke of injury time when Mikel Merino’s strike deflected off Havertz and went in, but VAR intervened to crash the party and rule the goal out for offside.
As per the best football betting sites, Arsenal are now considered a general 5/1 chance to win the Premier League this season and Liverpool are continuing to pull away each week.
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Arsenal set for another trophyless campaign unless Champions League miracle unfolds
Mikel Arteta won the FA Cup in his debut season as Arsenal manager and followed it up with triumph in the Charity Shield a few months later but ever since, the club have failed to get their hands on any silverware.
With the Premier League crown falling further out of reach every week, Arsenal’s best chance of a trophy could well be in the Champions League – holding odds of as short as 5/1.
Manchester United knocked them out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle earlier this month and they’re 2-0 down in their EFL Cup semi-final tie with Newcastle, so it’s an uphill battle to say the very least.
