Aston Villa vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League latest score and goal updates after Oleksandr Zinchenko equaliser

Arsenal hope to bounce back from their defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday night when they take on Aston Villa in the early Premier League kick off this afternoon. Mikel Arteta‘s side lost 3-1 to City in a result that saw Pep Guardiola’s team leapfrog them at the top of the table.

The Gunners have not won in four matches across all competitions and have dropped eight points from their last three league games thanks to losses against City and Everton and a 1-1 draw with Brentford. Arteta’s men are stumbling in their title challenge but a victory today will set them back on the right track.

Arsenal are reuniting with former boss Unai Emery who will take charge of Aston Villa for this encounter. Emery managed the Gunners from 2018 to 2019 before he was sacked and joined Villarreal. Villa have developed under Emery and are a tough team to beat losing only four of the 12 league games since he took over. However two of those defeats came in their last two outings and they midlands side will be eager to avoid a three successive loss today.

Follow all the action as Aston Villa host Arsenal in the Premier League:

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

• Aston Villa host Arsenal in the Premier League

• Villa have lost previous two league games and Arsenal can regain top spot in table with victory

• 61’ GOAL! - Zinchenko strikes to equalise for Arsenal (AST 2-2 ARS)

• 57’ CROSSBAR! - Nketiah’s headed effort hits the bar (AST 2-1 ARS)

• 31’ GOAL! - Coutinho sends Villa back in front (AST 2-1 ARS)

• 16’ GOAL! - A rocket from Saka brings Arsenal level (AST 1-1 ARS)

• 11’ OFF THE LINE! - Mings rescues Villa with goalline clearance (AST 1-0 ARS)

• 5’ GOAL! - A brilliant finish from Watkins puts Villa in front (AST 1-0 ARS)

Aston Villa FC 2 - 2 Arsenal FC

Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal

13:58 , Michael Jones

69 mins: Mikel Arteta responds with an attacking change of his own. Gabriel Martinelli replaces Leandro Trossard in a like-for-like swap out on the left wing.

Martinelli’s first involvement sees him make a run to the byline and deliver a cross into the hands of Emi Martinez.

Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal

13:56 , Michael Jones

67 mins: Unai Emery makes a couple of changes for Aston Villa now. Emiliano Buendia and Douglas Luiz go off with Leander Dendoncker and Leon Bailey introduced.

Will the fresh legs of the substitutes allow Villa to stay in this game?

Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal

13:55 , Michael Jones

64 mins: Arsenal are purring now. The ball is fed up to Martin Odegaard who spins towards goal and feed Eddie Nketiah in on goal. His first touch takes him wide of the last defender but narrows the angle to shoot.

Emi Martinez comes out to close him down and Nketiah lifts his chip over the top of the goal.

GOAL! Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal (Zinchenko, 61’)⚽️

13:52 , Michael Jones

61 mins: Equaliser! Arsenal work another short corner between Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. Odegaard slides the ball over to Oleksandr Zinchenko just inside the penalty area.

He takes a touch then drills a lovely strike past Emi Martinez to put Arsenal back on level terms.

Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:50 , Michael Jones

60 mins: Nearly! Douglas Luiz feeds the ball over to Ollie Watkins as Aston Villa break up the pitch. Watkins brings it under control and drives towards the box under pressure from William Saliba.

Saliba forces Watkins wide and eventually wins the ball as Watkins has no options to release it to.

Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:47 , Michael Jones

57 mins: Chance! There’s an opportunity for Jorginho to shoot from the edge of the box but he decides to send the ball into the box for Ben White.

White has to put on the burners but manages to get to the ball before flicking a cross into the box at the byline. Eddie Nketiah rises above Matty Cash to win the header and nods it onto the crossbar!

So close to an equaliser!

Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:43 , Michael Jones

54 mins: A short corner from Arsenal sees Odegaard knock the ball to Zinchenko who drives a shot into the middle of the box. His shot is blocked but bounces kindly to Saka who fizzes an effort of his own well wide of the target.

Saka then goes down holding his leg and needs some treatment from the physios. This is worrying for Arsenal. Saka has been there best player today.

Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:42 , Michael Jones

51 mins: Saka slips the ball to White on the overlap but the right-back heels it back to him. The Arsenal goalscorer then shifts wide of Moreno before lifting the ball into the middle.

Eddie Nketiah arrives to win the header but Ezri Konsa beats him in the air and draws a foul out of the striker. Good defending.

Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:37 , Michael Jones

48 mins: It won’t be too long before Mikel Arteta makes some changes if Arsenal can’t get themselves back into this match. There hasn’t been any changes at half-time from either manager.

Jorginho tries to find a way forward on the left side of the pitch but he’s tackled by Douglas Luiz who prods the ball out for a throw in.

Second half: Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:35 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa get the game back underway and lift the ball over to Ollie Watkins but he fouls William Saliba trying to bring the ball under control.

HT Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:32 , Michael Jones

Bukayo Saka has been directly involved in 17 goals in the Premier League this season (9 goals, 8 assists), behind only centre-forwards Erling Haaland (30) and Harry Kane (18).

HT Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:28 , Michael Jones

Ollie Watkins has scored in each of his last four appearances for Aston Villa in the Premier League; it’s the first time in his career that’s he’s scored in four consecutive league games in England’s top four tiers.

HT Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:24 , Michael Jones

A wonderful first 45 minutes from Aston Villa sees them lead Arsenal by two goals to one. Bukayo Saka has given the visitors a chance to get back in this one but Villa have the advantage going into the second half.

Half-time: Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:20 , Michael Jones

45+2 mins: There’s a little bust up after Martin Odegaard is tackled by Tyrone Mings. When it all dies down the half-time whistle goes and Aston Villa take a lead into the break.

Work for Arsenal to do in the second half.

Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:16 , Michael Jones

45 mins: Jorginho switches the ball over to Saka on the right wing. He whips in a cross that gets headed over to John McGinn who completes the clearance for Aston Villa.

Two minutes of added time to play.

Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:14 , Michael Jones

41 mins: Saka brings the ball under control when it comes over the top and drives it into the box. He lays it off to Odegaard who rolls a pass back to Jorginho.

Jorginho threads the ball through the lines but it’s too heavy for Saka to keep in play.

Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:11 , Michael Jones

37 mins: Saka and Odegaard combine on the edge of the penalty area but Buendia gets back for Villa to tackle Saka and force the winger to knock the ball out for a goal kick.

Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:09 , Michael Jones

34 mins: Aston Villa have been very good today. They’ve been disciplined in defence and have moved the ball quickly in attack. They only blip was Tyrone Mings’ clearance that led to Bukayo Saka’s goal.

Arsenal have to come from behind again.

GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal (Coutinho, 31’)⚽️

13:04 , Michael Jones

31 mins: Lovely goal! Aston Villa bring the ball down the inside left channel before slipping it into the feet of Alex Moreno who makes an overlapping run in behind Ben White.

Moreno then pulls the ball back into the middle of the box where Emiliano Buendia draws in two defenders before leaping over the ball and letting it run through to Philippe Coutinho.

He finishes it brilliantly and Villa are back in front. That’s a fantastic team goal from the home side.

Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal

13:01 , Michael Jones

30 mins: Boubacar Kamara and Ben White both challenge for a 50/50 ball deep in Villa’s half with White coming out of the collision in worse shape.

Arsenal are awarded the throw in and win themselves a corner kick.

Bukayo Saka lifts this one into the middle and targets the deep run of Gabriel. Emi Martinez forces his way through a cluster of bodies though and plucks the ball out of the air.

Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal

12:59 , Michael Jones

28 mins: Douglas Luiz has another opportunity to shoot from range when Aston Villa win a free kick about 30-yards out from goal. He drills his effort into the wall but the ball rebounds over to Alex Moreno.

The defender cuts onto his right foot and takes a shot of his own but it gets blocked and Bukayo Saka manages to run the ball clear.

Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal

12:55 , Michael Jones

25 mins: The Gunners win a free kick over on the left wing that Martin Odegaard curls into the box. There’s a bit of argy bargy in the middle but Villa deal with the cross without too much trouble.

Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal

12:54 , Michael Jones

22 mins: There were a few nervous moments for Arsenal when Bukayo Saka went down off the ball with a niggle. He’s back on his feet though and looks fine to continue.

Gabriel floats a cross field pass over to Leandro Trossard on the left wing but Matty Cash gets over quickly to tap the ball out for a throw in.

Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal

12:50 , Michael Jones

19 mins: Arsenal have grown nicely into the game. They’ve done this a few times this season - going behind before responding well.

Oleksandr Zinchenko brings the ball down the inside left channel, runs into space and hits a left-footed effort straight into the arms of Emi Martinez.

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal (Saka, 16’)⚽️

12:48 , Michael Jones

16 mins: There’s a game on here! Jorginho weaves and twists on the edge of the box as Villa look to take the ball away from him.

The Arsenal midfielder manages to slip the ball out wide to Ben White who whips in a cross that Tyrone Mings nods down to Bukayo Saka.

Saka shoots first time and drills a rocket past Emi Martinez who’s left rooted to the spot. Wonderful strike.

Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal

12:44 , Michael Jones

14 mins: That was wonderful defending from Tyrone Mings but the goal wouldn’t have stood anyway as the replays show Ben White had drifted offside.

Arsenal will take heart from the move though. It was a good one to break Villa down.

Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal

12:43 , Michael Jones

11 mins: Off the line! Jorginho brings the ball through the middle of the pitch before dinking a chip over the top and playing Ben White in on the right side of the box.

White touches the ball down then flicks it over Emi Martinez and looks to have scored an equaliser only for Tyrone Mings to sprint back and lift the ball onto the crossbar where it bounces behind!

Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal

12:40 , Michael Jones

8 mins: That is just the start Aston Villa would have been hoping for. Matty Cash did brilliantly to dispossess Zinchenko and transition the ball up to Watkins but it was the striker, who’s now scored in four successive league games, who made the goal. His finish was one brimming with confidence and style.

Arsenal look to respond through Leandro Trossard on the left. He puts the ball into the box but Villa defend in numbers and clear their lines.

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal (Watkins, 5’)⚽️

12:37 , Michael Jones

5 mins: What a goal! Matty Cash picks the pocket of Oleksandr Zinchenko and drives down the right side before floating a perfect pass over the top to Ollie Watkins.

The striker’s first touch isn’t great but he guides the ball into the left side of the penalty area before smoking a wonderful finish past Aaron Ramsdale to give Villa the lead!

Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal

12:33 , Michael Jones

3 mins: Aston Villa’s first foray into Arsenal’s half sees Philippe Coutinho bring the ball down the left wing before sliding it across to Douglas Luiz.

He’s miles out from goal but has space to take a shot and does so. Unsurprisingly the effort sails well wide of the right-hand post.

Kick off: Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal

12:31 , Michael Jones

Eddie Nketiah kicks off the match and sends the ball back to goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. He feeds it out to the right side where Bukayo Saka wins an early throw in.

Arsenal will want to impose themselves on the match as quickly as possible.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

12:26 , Michael Jones

Here come the teams.

John McGinn and Martin Odegaard lead out their respective teammates. Arsenal will jump back to the top of the Premier League table should they defeat Aston Villa today.

Villa, meanwhile, are targeting a place in the top 10 and will draw level on points with Chelsea should they be victorious at Villa Park.

Kick off is up next.

Villa without Mings

12:22 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa have won just one of their 12 Premier League games since promotion when Tyrone Mings hasn’t started. That was a 1-0 victory over Norwich in December 2019.

They have drawn two and lost nine of those matches.

Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings signs new contract

12:18 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings has signed a new deal with the Premier League club.

Villa have not disclosed details of the new contract for Mings, whose previous deal was set to expire at the end of next season.

A club statement read: “Aston Villa is delighted to announce Tyrone Mings has signed a new contract with the club.

Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings signs new contract

Three in a row?

12:14 , Michael Jones

The Gunners have lost successive away games in all competitions, as many as in their first 14 this term. They last lost three away games in a row in December 2021, while they’ve not done so without scoring since December 2009.

Slow starters

12:10 , Michael Jones

Unai Emery’s side have conceded a top-flight high of nine goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches this season.

Should they get through that period Aston Villa could be able to pile the pressure on Arsenal with the in-form Ollie Watkins searching for more goals.

Arsenal must remind themselves of their brilliance against tricky Aston Villa

12:06 , Michael Jones

Just over a month ago, the murmurings began. A 2-0 away win at north London rivals, Manchester City suffering a derby defeat the day before. Eight points the gap. They couldn’t, could they?

Skip forward to Wednesday night, as Erling Haaland fired home City’s third, and Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League was no more.

If a month feels a long time in today’s unrelenting footballing world, Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal squad will now appreciate that better than most.

There can be no period of reflection, no time to lick the wounds. Arteta must rouse his troops immediately. Just three days on from that crushing defeat lies Saturday’s tricky encounter away against Aston Villa, a team now managed by his predecessor Unai Emery.

Arsenal must remind themselves of their brilliance against tricky Aston Villa

Gunners on the road

12:02 , Michael Jones

Arsenal have taken 25 points out of a possible 33 in their 11 top-flight away fixtures this campaign, just three shy of their tally in the whole of last season.

Close to the top

11:58 , Michael Jones

This is the first time since 20th August that Arsenal are starting a round of fixtures not on top of the Premier League table but they could end the day there if they defeat Aston Villa and Manchester City fail to beat Nottingham Forest in the 3pm kick off.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta calls for protection ahead of ‘very difficult’ Aston Villa trip

11:54 , Michael Jones

Mikel Arteta has called for the Premier League to offer all clubs the protection of not being forced to kick-off early on a Saturday having played on a Wednesday night.

Champions League teams do not have to play in the 12.30pm slot on a Saturday if they have played in Europe on the Wednesday night.

However, Arsenal will kick off at Villa Park just 63 hours after the full-time whistle blew in their 3-1 loss to title rivals Manchester City.

Speaking in 2020, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp fumed in an interview with BT Sport after his side had been held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton in the early kick-off having faced Atalanta in the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta calls for protection ahead of ‘very difficult’ Aston Villa trip

Back-to-back defeats?

11:50 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa are looking to avoid consecutive league defeats at Villa Park for the first time since April last year where one of those two defeats was against Arsenal.

Can Arsenal find a way to win?

11:46 , Michael Jones

Arsenal are without a win in their last three top-flight games, having dropped points in just three of their opening 19 league fixtures this season.

Has their luck run out or can they get back to winning ways today?

Was Arsenal’s defeat to Man City the start of the end of the Premier League title race?

11:42 , Michael Jones

By the time Mikel Arteta returned to the Arsenal dressing room, the players were barely saying a thing. The mood was “down”. Arteta attempted to rouse them by saying they just needed to figure out why they lost in order to improve on it, and “move on”.

A problem is now how the season evolves from here, though. Such was the nature of Manchester City’s victory that it’s impossible not to think this is the start of the end. For the first time this season, though, that fear isn’t just because of the champions’ capacity to go on one of those runs.

It is whether Arsenal now go in the other direction. This 3-1 defeat to City made it one point from three in the Premier League, three defeats in the last four in all competitions and no victories at all in any of this.

Is this the start of the end of the Premier League title race?

A dip in form

11:38 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa have suffered back-to-back Premier League losses for the first time since Steven Gerrard’s final two games in charge in October.

The seven goals they have conceded in those two matches is an many as in their previous seven fixtures combined. Can they stop the rot today?

Aston Villa vs Arsenal team changes

11:34 , Michael Jones

Unai Emery makes a whole heap of changes to the Aston Villa line-up that lost to Manchester City in their last outing. In defence Ezri Konsa is the only man to keep his place as Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings and Alex Moreno all return.

John McGinn and Philippe Coutinho also slot into midfield at the expense of Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey.

For Arsenal, Mikel Arteta makes just two changes. Ben White returns at right-back over Takehiro Tomiyasu whilst Leandro Trossard starts ahead of Gabriel Martinelli.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal line-ups

11:31 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Moreno, McGinn, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, Coutinho, Buendia, Watkins

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Trossard, Nketiah

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

11:27 , Michael Jones

Arsenal have only won more Premier League away games against West Ham than the 13 victories they have earned at Villa Park.

Will they be adding to that total today?

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

11:24 , Michael Jones

The venue for this afternoon’s match. Arsenal travel to Villa Park in the hopes of reclaiming top spot in the Premier League.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

11:20 , Michael Jones

Arsenal are looking to complete successive league doubles over Aston Villa. Only one of the last 21 meetings between these sides in all competitions has ended in a draw.

Mikel Arteta claims neutrals want Arsenal to win Premier League title and have ‘sympathy’ for Gunners

11:16 , Michael Jones

Mikel Arteta believes more neutrals want to see Arsenal win the Premier League than their title rivals Manchester City.

The Gunners boss feels people have seen “the way Arsenal do things” as they aim to regain top spot having lost to City on Wednesday night.

They head into the weekend second on goal difference and are in action in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off when they travel to face former manager Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.

City’s 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium took them ahead of Arteta’s men for the first time since November 5 but they sit atop the table amid allegations of breaches of Premier League rules.

Arteta claims neutrals want Arsenal to win Premier League title

Aston Villa vs Arsenal prediction

11:12 , Michael Jones

There is a personal rivalry between Unai Emery and Arsenal after he was let go after just one season in charge. The Aston Villa boss will want to get a touch of revenge this afternoon and will have focused his players on this big game.

Although Villa are in a dip of form they’re confident in front of goal with Ollie Watkins leading the line and will cause trouble for Arsenal. The Gunners have some brilliant individual quality though and should be a handful for the home side.

Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal predicted line-ups

11:08 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa: Martinez; Young, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; Kamara, Luiz, Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Bailey

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Jorginho; Saka, Odegaard, Trossard; Nketiah

What is the early team news?

11:04 , Michael Jones

For hosts Aston Villa Diego Carlos remains out due to injury but Tyrone Mings should be back for selection.

Thomas Partey will undergo an assessment for Saturday’s match due to a muscle problem, while Emile Smith Rowe could be in the squad but Gabriel Jesus is yet to recover.

How to watch Aston Villa vs Arsenal

11:00 , Michael Jones

The match will kick-off at 12.30pm GMT on Saturday, 18 February at Villa Park.

The game will be available for fans to watch on BT Sport 1. BT Sport customers can also stream the match live on the BT Sport website.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

10:56 , Michael Jones

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of this morning’s Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Arsenal.

The Gunners come up against their old boss, Unai Emery, after they surrendered top spot in the table to Manchester City following a 3-1 defeat to the current champions. Mikel Arteta’s side can regain first place should they avoid defeat at Villa Park but three points would be the preferable option.

However, Arsenal have only collected one point from their last three league games following defeats to City and Everton either side of a 1-1 draw with Brentford. Victory today would get them out of that rut and back into the title race.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, are enjoying life under Emery. They’ve win six of the 12 games he’s been in charge and are relatively safe in midtable. But, like Arsenal, they’ve hit a stumbling block in their last two matches falling to heavy defeats against Leicester and Man City.

Can the Villans rediscover their form this afternoon? Kick off for this one is at 12.30pm.