Arsenal’s Premier League title aspirations suffered a setback on Saturday as they were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. But it was the manner of the result that left manager Mikel Arteta grappling with conflicting emotions, as a controversial VAR decision to disallow a late winner for handball ignited debate and consternation.
The Gunners looked to be cruising to victory after racing into a two-goal lead, but Villa staged a spirited second-half fightback through strikes from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins. However, the real drama was yet to come. In the dying embers of the game, Mikel Merino thought he had sealed a vital three points for Arsenal when his effort deflected off Kai Havertz and nestled in the net.
Cue bedlam in the stands and on the touchline, but the celebrations proved premature. After a lengthy review, VAR official John Brooks adjudged Havertz to have handled the ball in the build-up, chalking off the goal and leaving the home fans incensed. Arteta, though visibly irked by the decision, struck a philosophical tone in his post-match comments.
From one angle it looks [like a handball] and from the other it doesn’t. It’s difficult because you have so much emotion, you celebrate it and it’s taken away from you. It’s not easy.
Mikel Arteta
Villa forward Watkins, while relieved to see his side escape with a point, conceded that the call could easily have gone the other way. “Seeing [the handball] back there, I’m not sure … I think it’s gone in favour of us a little bit,” he admitted. “If that had gone against us I think I would be a little disappointed.”
Title Race Implications
The stalemate leaves Arsenal six points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, who capitalized on the Gunners’ slip-up with a last-gasp 2-0 win over Brentford thanks to a brace from Darwin Núñez. Significantly, Jürgen Klopp’s side also boast a game in hand, putting them firmly in the driving seat as the season enters its final stretch.
Arteta couldn’t help but contrast his own side’s lack of cutting edge with Liverpool’s knack for conjuring late winners. The Spaniard pointed to the strength in depth at Klopp’s disposal as a key factor in the title race.
There are moments [in the title race], obviously. [Liverpool] managed to do that, they made the subs and the subs made the impact and managed to change the game.
Mikel Arteta
With injuries to key attackers like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus limiting Arteta’s options off the bench, Arsenal could only muster a solitary substitute against Villa. In contrast, Liverpool’s game-changers made the difference at Brentford, underlining the fine margins at the top of the Premier League.
VAR in the Spotlight Again
Saturday’s contentious call at the Emirates is just the latest in a string of high-profile VAR incidents that have sparked heated debates among fans, pundits, and players alike this season. While the technology has undoubtedly helped to correct clear and obvious errors, its application in more subjective situations like handball continues to divide opinion.
For Arsenal, the sense of injustice is particularly acute given the potential ramifications for their title hopes. Had Havertz’s goal stood, the Gunners would have moved to within three points of Liverpool with renewed momentum. Instead, they find themselves playing catch-up with time running out.
As the Premier League hurtles towards its climax, the spotlight on VAR and its impact on the destination of the trophy shows no sign of dimming. For Arteta and Arsenal, the challenge now is to channel their frustration into a fightback over the remaining games. With Liverpool in pole position and Manchester City also in the mix, there is little margin for error.
The title race promises more twists and turns in the weeks ahead, but Arsenal will hope that Saturday’s VAR controversy isn’t the defining moment that their challenge is remembered for. Arteta has already shown his ability to galvanize his troops in the face of adversity this season. He may need to draw on those motivational powers again to keep Arsenal’s dream alive.
