Aston Villa earned a valuable point against second-placed Arsenal after coming back from two goals behind to draw 2-2 at the Emirates Stadium.

Gabriel Martinelli broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, before Kai Havertz doubled the host's advantage early in the second half. Youri Tielemans halved the deficit on the hour mark, before Ollie Watkins then equalised eight minutes later.

Villa headed to the capital searching for successive away league wins against the Gunners for the first in 32 years after winning 2-0 last season. That victory in April is the last home league defeat which Mikel Arteta’s side have suffered having now gone unbeaten in 14 on home turf. Their most recent longer run without defeat at the Emirates spanned 16 games in 2018-19 under current Villa boss Unai Emery.

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Arsenal started the better of the two sides, but it was Ian Maatsen who had the best chance early on. He jinked inside the box on his left side, but his effort was straight at David Raya.

Ollie Watkins was presented with a chance to get a shot off in the 18th minute after being picked out by Morgan Rogers, but the Villa forward opted to come back on his right side which allowed Gabriel to tackle him.

Before Watkins saw an effort go over and then be blocked, Maatsen was booked for fouling Marinelli. But in the 36th minute, Villa’s left-back didn’t know where Martinelli was as the winger sneaked in front of him at the back post to turn in Leandro Trossard’s cross.

Arsenal extended their advantage in the 55th minute when Havertz converted Trossard's cross from the left. Not long after Arsenal's second, Tielemans headed in Lucas Digne's cross to halve Villa's deficit before then striking the post minutes later.

Watkins then bagged in successive league games for the first time since September by beating David Raya from close range having been picked out by Matty Cash.

There was late drama as Mikel Merino's strike deflected off Havertz and past Martinez, but after a VAR review, the ball hit the German's hand.

Villa are next in action on Tuesday night when they face AS Monaco (5:45pm) in their penultimate Champions League league phase fixture at the Stade Louis II.

Player ratings

Emi Martinez

Martinez made an early save when Martinelli had a decent chance at the far post early on. He did his best to claw the ball from off the line when the Arsenal winger scored his side's opener, but may feel he should have done more to stop Havertz's effort. Martinez made a big saves late on to preserve a point. 7

Matty Cash

Cash battled well against Trossard, who had an excellent game for Arsenal and made two assists. The Villa right-back put in a brilliant cross to help Watkins score Villa's equaliser. 7

Tyrone Mings

Mings was too late to intervene when Trossard pulled the ball across for Havertz to double Arsenal's lead. The Villa centre-back stood tall when facing set-pieces and crosses into the box. 7

Ezri Kosna

Like Mings, Konsa also played his role in helping drag Villa over the line under great pressure from Arsenal late on. 7

Ian Maatsen

Maatsen was preferred to Digne for this one in the only change Emery made to the side which beat Everton on Wednesday night. He had Villa's first chance of the half when he skipped into the box and fired at Raya. Maatsen was a threat going forward, but struggled defensively. After going in the book in the first 20 minutes, he switched off at the back post before half-time which allowed Martinelli to score. 6

Boubacar Kamara

Kamara won plenty of ground duels and was busy in the middle of the park, though like Cash he needed to get a block in on Trossard's cross. Five recoveries and six clearances for Kamara. 7

Amadou Onana

Onana was always looking to progress possession and break into space in the short amount of time he had on the pitch. After suffering an injury, the Belgian came off in the 36th minute. 6

Morgan Rogers

Rogers had few chances to get a shot off or combine in the final third, but he showed a different side of his game today, digging in and helping his team out in the defensive phase. When he had the chance to get forward he caused problems. 7

Youri Tielemans

Tielemans reduced Villa's deficit with an excellent header, before coming within inches of equalising just moments later when he hit the post. 8

Jacob Ramsey

Ramsey made successive league starts for the first time since the start of November. He was bright in the first half and combined well with Watkins in particular. 7

Ollie Watkins

Watkins continued in the XI after scoring the winning goal against Everton in midweek. He had a few half chances before scoring Villa's equaliser. It was always going to be a selfless display from Watkins, who has caused problems for Arsenal many times. 8

SUBS

Lamare Bogarde (for Onana, 36'): It was a big vote of confidence from Emery in Bogarde to play the 21-year-old in the double pivot instead of bringing Tielemans back from his more advanced role. Bogarde held his own and operated well against some of the best midfielders in the Premier League. 7

Lucas Digne (for Maatsen, 45'): Digne made a positive impact after coming into the game. He cleared the ball at the back post early in the second half and put in a perfect delivery for Tielemans. 8

Jhon Duran (for Watkins, 80'): N/A

Leon Bailey (for Ramsey, 85'): N/A

Subs not used: Olsen, Gauci, Nedeljkovic, Buendia, Malen.

GOALS

Arsenal: Martinelli (35'), Havertz (55')

Aston Villa: Tielemans (60'), Watkins (68')

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