Aston Villa’s undefeated record in 2025 was under great threat when they travelled to North London to take on Arsenal at the Emirates in the Premier League’s Saturday evening kick-off.
Villa won all three games in January and has been undefeated since their defeat to Newcastle at St James Park on Boxing Day. They cost Arsenal any hopes of winning the Premier League title last season, could they do the same?
Mikel Arteta’s side is also on a good run of form, losing just one of their five games this month. Like Villa, it came at the hands of Newcastle United in the League Cup Semi-final.
Arsenal have a weird obsession with Villa due to our manager so no doubt, they would have been up for this game both on and off the pitch.
Report: Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
Unai Emery made just one change to the team that beat Everton mid-week as Ian Maatsen was preferred to Lucas Digne who dropped to the bench. New signing Donyell Malen had to settle for a place on the bench against one of his former clubs.
Arsenal were fast out of the traps pinning Villa back for the opening 10 minutes with Emi Martínez denying his former side after three minutes when Gabriel Martinelli got on the end of a cross from Declan Rice.
Villa’s first effort came from the man brought into the side, Maatsen who cut inside firing his effort straight at David Raya.
The game began to open up and became end-to-end with both sides looking a threat. First Leandro Trossard’s long-range effort deflected but once again Martínez was equal to the effort parrying it away from goal. Then Ollie Watkins was able to jump onto a loose ball from a Thomas Partey throw in but his chipped effort went over the crossbar.
The home side eventually took the lead ten minutes before the break when Martinelli was able to get on the end of a Trossard cross, squeezing the ball just over the line despite the best efforts from our goalkeeper.
Digne replaced Maatsen who struggled all half with Martinelli at half time but it didn’t take long for the hosts to double their lead following the restart.
Another cross from Trossard, who caused problems all day for Matty Cash, but this time it was Kai Havertz who was able to convert from close range.
Villa looked dead and buried but the never-say-die attitude we were used to last season returned and they got themselves back in the game five minutes later.
Youri Tielemans beat Mikel Merino to a Digne cross to score a superb diving header at the near post.
The goalscorer very nearly pulled Villa level moments later but his effort agonisingly bounced back off the woodwork. The home side was rattled and surely it was only a matter of time.
It was eight minutes after Villa’s first goal. Cash cut in on his weaker left foot before sending over a beautiful cross for Watkins to cushion in the equaliser.
Would it be a game involving Arsenal if it went without drama? We got it late on when Merino’s effort deflected off Havertz’s hand and into the net. The goal was correctly disallowed via VAR but some Arsenal fans refuse to believe it hit his arm despite all the video proof.
A very good point on the road for Villa as they remain unbeaten in 2025. Next up, the Champions League returns as Villa head to Monaco in mid-week.
