Aston Villa vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League latest score and goal updates after Oleksandr Zinchenko equaliser
‘We really had them’ – Arteta laments mistakes in defeat to title rivals Man City
Arsenal will be hoping to recover from their defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday night when they take on Aston Villa in this afternoon’s early Premier League opener. Mikel Arteta’s side lost 3-1 to City which resulted in Pep Guardiola’s side overtaking them at the top of the table.
The Gunners are unbeaten in four games in all competitions and have dropped eight points in their last three league games thanks to defeats by City and Everton and a 1-1 draw with Brentford. Arteta’s men are stumbling in their title challenge but a win today will put them back on track.
Arsenal reunite with former boss Unai Emery, who will be in charge of Aston Villa for this clash. Emery managed the Gunners from 2018 to 2019 before being sacked and joining Villarreal. Villa have developed under Emery and are a tough side to beat, having lost just four of their 12 league games since taking charge. However, there have been two of those defeats in the last two games and the Mittelland side will be keen to avoid losing three in a row today.
Follow all the action when Aston Villa host Arsenal in the Premier League:
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal
87 minutes: There it is. Emi Martinez is cautioned for wasting time and delaying the restart from a free-kick. He’s been taking the mick for a while and it was only a matter of time before he earned a yellow card.
Michael JonesFebruary 18, 2023 2:17 p.m
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal
84 minutes: Off the bar! Aston Villa now have a chance to win the game as they bring the ball to Leon Bailey on the right wing. He brings the ball down and spins down the line before slicing inside.
Bailey comes into the box and puts a shot on target only for Aaron Ramsdale to reach him and knock the ball over the bar!
Michael JonesFebruary 18, 2023 2:12 p.m
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal
81 minutes: Changes by both teams.
Fabio Vieira and Takehiro Tomiyasu replace Granit Xhaka and Ben White for Arsenal. Jhon Duran and Lucas Digne come on for Villa to take the places of Alex Moreno and Ollie Watkins.
Michael JonesFebruary 18, 2023 2:10 p.m
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal
78 minutes: Chance! Martin Odegaard has a chance to give Arsenal the lead! Eddie Nketiah carries the ball into the box from the left, holding off a couple of defenders before shoving it perfectly to his captain.
Odegaard has time to find his place and goes into the far bottom corner only to grind his shot and pull it past the target.
Michael JonesFebruary 18, 2023 2:08 p.m
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal
75 minutes: Gabriel Martinelli now winces in pain as he taps a short corner to Martin Odegaard. Odegaard levitates the ball to Bukayo Saka, who volleys you and slams his shot into the deck.
The ball wobbles into the penalty area and is easily cleared by Aston Villa.
Michael JonesFebruary 18, 2023 2:07 p.m
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal
72 mins: Emi Martinez tries his best to take a time out from the game. He takes an eternity with every goal kick to get the game back on track. It won’t be long before the referee has his say.
Arsenal takes another short corner, which Martin Odegaard swings into the penalty area and lifts off in the middle. Tyrone Mings jumps the highest and nods significantly.
Michael JonesFebruary 18, 2023 2:01 p.m
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal
69 mins: Mikel Arteta responds with a change of attack of his own. Gabriel Martinelli replaces Leandro Trossard in a like-for-like swap on the left wing.
In Martinelli’s first involvement, he runs to the touchline and delivers a cross into the hands of Emi Martinez.
Michael JonesFebruary 18, 2023 1:58 p.m
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal
67 mins: Unai Emery now makes a few changes for Aston Villa. Emiliano Buendia and Douglas Luiz walk away, Leander Dendoncker and Leon Bailey are introduced.
Will the fresh legs of the substitutes allow Villa to stay in this game?
Michael JonesFebruary 18, 2023 1:56 p.m
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal
64 minutes: Arsenal are now purring. The ball goes to Martin Odegaard, who turns towards goal and puts Eddie Nketiah on goal. His first touch takes him past the last defender but narrows the angle of the shot.
Emi Martinez comes out to close it and Nketiah lifts his chip over the top of the goal.
Michael JonesFebruary 18, 2023 1:55 p.m
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal (Zinchenko, 61′)⚽️
61 minutes: Compensation! Arsenal works another short corner between Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. Odegaard pushes the ball to Oleksandr Zinchenko in the penalty area.
He takes a touch and then drills a nice punch past Emi Martinez to put Arsenal back level.
Michael JonesFebruary 18, 2023 1:52 p.m