The Premier League's Match Centre has confirmed that Kai Havertz's late goal was disallowed for handball after Arsenal were denied would-be winner against Aston Villa.

Mikel Merino volleyed into the ground and that deflected off the Germany forward and into the back of the net, past a despairing Emi Martinez. However, following an intervention from VAR, the effort was chalked off.

The Gunners squandered a two-goal lead after Gabriel Martinelli initially opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time. The former Chelsea striker doubled their lead 10 minutes after the restart with Mikel Arteta's side, seemingly, on course to reduce Liverpool's lead at the top of the Premier League.

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However, Youri Tielemans reduced the arrears on the hour-mark, before striker Ollie Watkins then rifled home off the underside of the crossbar to level up proceedings. Arsenal peppered the Villa goal looking to restore the lead and thought they had when the Spaniard's goal-bound effort ricocheted off Havertz's right arm..

According to FA rules, a goal can be ruled out for handball if it has been scored either directly from a player's arm or hand - no matter the intent - or immediately after they have played the ball with their hand or arm.

In a post on X (was Twitter), the Premier League Match Centre said: "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."

Following the decision, there were boos from the Emirates Stadium crowd. However, there was enough time for Arsenal to probe for the decisive third goal with Leandro Trossard hitting the post before the Gunners scrambled but failed to find the equaliser.

In the fifth minute of stoppage time, the Belgium raced through - but saw his effort trickle past the far post. As a result, Arsenal failed to hack away at Liverpool's lead at the top of the table - leaving them six points off the pace going into next weekend's trip to Molineux, where they face Wolves.