Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta refrained from criticising the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) following the disallowed goal in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, instead focusing on his team's defensive shortcomings, particularly in relation to Ollie Watkins' equalising goal.
The Gunners had initially taken a commanding 2-0 lead at the Emirates Stadium, courtesy of goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, both assisted by Leandro Trossard. However, Unai Emery's Aston Villa mounted a remarkable comeback, with Youri Tielemans and Watkins finding the net to secure a point for the visitors.
Watkins, who has now scored six Premier League goals against Arsenal, has netted four of those at the Emirates Stadium, establishing himself as the most prolific visiting player at this venue since joining Villa in 2020. His ability to exploit defensive lapses was evident once again, as he capitalised on a mistake from makeshift right-back Thomas Partey to level the match.
Arsenal entered this fixture under significant pressure to close the gap to league leaders Liverpool, especially after the Reds secured a late 2-0 victory over Brentford. The draw leaves Arsenal six points adrift of Liverpool, having played one match more.
As noted by Football365, Havertz’s goal was disallowed after it was deemed that Mikel Merino’s shot had struck his hand prior to entering the net. Reflecting on the disallowed goal, Watkins stated, “Seeing it back I’m not sure, it has gone in favour of us. If it was against me I would be a bit disappointed. I don’t know. From that angle I am not sure, but that’s what VAR is there for.” He further remarked, “I think we got the goal, Luca [Lucas Digne] put in an unbelievable ball and Youri Tielemans scored. We got a lot of momentum from that and we had a bit of faith whenever we went forward that they were quite open.”
Arteta expressed his disappointment regarding the defensive errors that led to both of Villa's goals, particularly the lapse in concentration that allowed Watkins to equalise. He praised his players’ efforts, stating: “Pride [at] the way the boys played and competed, the third time in six days. To deliver that dominance, that performance, they were outstanding. We deserved much more, that’s clear. The way we defended, especially the second goal, can’t be part of our game.”
He added, “Overall the word is pride because they were exceptional. The way they tried [was impressive]. There were players that were dead and performed like this for 97 minutes. They don’t look for excuses or to the bench looking what to do. It was the best game we played against Villa since I’ve been here. They’re a good side. In attack and defending, the level we’re playing is so high. Something was missing. The line is so thin and we have to find it. Today we cannot concede the two goals we did after everything we did. That line is so thin. Credit to them as well.”
Regarding the disallowed goal, Arteta remarked: “The decision is made. It’s difficult because we have so much emotion, the celebration and it’s taken away from you. Not easy.”
Tielemans, who scored shortly after Havertz's disallowed goal, reflected on the match’s progression, saying, “We came back really well into the game. The [first] goal gave us freedom and belief. It’s not an easy task. They were on top of us for 60 minutes. I saw the space and tried to jump into it. Good goal.” He added, “From our point of view [a good result] is always deserved. We take the point and move forward. They had many chances but we defended with our bodies on the line. 2-2 is a good result for us. The first half we had a couple of counters, misplaced passes from me which could have put Ollie Watkins in. We fought really well to come back into the game. Big win. We have had some bad results away from home. We just need that consistency away from home because we’re doing well at Villa Park. It gives us a massive boost of confidence for the rest of the season.”
In light of recent performances, Arteta is reportedly considering expediting plans to acquire a new striker, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko emerging as a key target. Football pundit Jamie Carragher has suggested that Arsenal "cannot win the title" this season after Arteta prioritised the signing of Mikel Merino over a striker during the summer transfer window. Additionally, Arteta confirmed that the Gunners are "actively looking" for reinforcements following Gabriel Jesus' injury.