Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa LIVE RESULT: Gunners fail to close gap at the top as Villans secure point after superb comeback
Sponsored by
ARSENAL have to settle for a point after a thrilling 2-2 with Aston Villa.
Gabriel Martinelli broke the deadlock on 35 minutes despite Emiliano Martinez's best efforts to stop the ball from crossing the line.
After half-time, Kai Havertz ended his poor run in front of goal with a close-range finish to make it 2-0.
But Arsenal's two-goal advantage didn't last long as Youri Tielemans headed home for 2-1.
And things went from bad to worse for the Gunners after Ollie Watkins slammed home a stunning equaliser on 68 minutes.
- Match result: Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
- Arsenal team: Raya, Partey, Timber, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard, Merino, Trossard, Martinelli, Havertz
- Aston Villa team: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Onana, Kamara, Rogers, Tielemans, Ramsey Watkins
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Follow our live blog below...
67 - West Ham 0-1 Crystal Palace
Graham Potter made a triple substitution a short time ago, with Lewis Orford one of them coming on for a Premier League debut.
Danny Ings and Oliver Scarles the other two coming on with the Hammers desperate to get level.
62 - Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
Penalty shouts at both ends in a matter of minutes.
Van den Berg at one end has a shot which hits Konate in the arm but he's at close range and VAR quickly dismiss it.
Luis Diaz then goes down at the other end under close attention from Flekken trying to deny a corner.
No penalty given and Kris Boyd tells Soccer Saturday: "No, he'll get booked for diving. Let me check another replay...
"No, that is embarrassing. Absolutely embarrassing, embarrassing."
Team news from the Emirates
Arsenal team: Raya, Partey, Timber, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard, Merino, Trossard, Martinelli, Havertz.
Aston Villa team: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Onana, Kamara, Rogers, Tielemans, Ramsey Watkins.
The headline team news is that Arsenal defender William Saliba is not in the squad after he picked up a suspected injury in Wednesday's win over Tottenham.
Jurren Timber will fill in at centre-back, with Thomas Partey at right-back.
'All Liverpool'
Chris Sutton tells BBC Radio 5 Live: "Liverpool are looking more and more dangerous. Brentford have been careless in possession.
"You do feel it's coming for Liverpool but then Brentford also look dangerous when they break up the pitch."
Martin Keown adds on Football Focus: "Statistically 20 odd shots from Liverpool and it's all them at the moment.
"I think Liverpool will find a way to win this."
Bit of excitement
Couple of early goals to start the second half then.
Surprisingly, still nothing from the Gtech despite Liverpool racking up 13 corners so far!
48 - GOAL!! Leicester 0-1 FULHAM
EMILE SMITH ROWE opens the scoring after a couple of minutes of the second half!
A switch of play from Fulham inside the Leicester third finds Harry Wilson.
It looks like his touch is going to let him down and the ball bounce out but he flicks the ball over his head and into the six-yard box, taking the defenders by surprise and Smith Rowe dives low to head into the net from a couple of yards.
48 - GOAL!! West Ham 0-1 CRYSTAL PALACE
The first goal in the 3pm games and it's from JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA!
Palace have the ball inside their own box, second later the ball is in West Ham's net.
The ball is knocked up to Sarr inside his own half and he flicks a header to Eze inside the centre circle.
First time, he slides a pass for Mateta who collects it midway inside the Hammers' half and Kilman stands off him, stands off him, waiting for Mateta to do something.
The striker gets near the edge of the area, opens his body to give Fabianski the eyes before firing low and hard low into the other corner!
Second half!
Back under way then for the second 45 minutes.
These six teams have left us waiting for some goal action but there's going to be PLENTY coming in this second half.
My prediction: 7 goals will arrive across the three games.
Just nothing
Dean Henderson would be as well sitting watching this beside me.
The Fabianski save from Mateta was a fantastic one but in truth not much else outwith that, particularly the Hammers not forcing a save yet.
It has to be better after the break, right?
Graham Hill at the King Power
Ruud van Nistelrooy will be pleased to go into the break on level terms. Leicester have threatened on occasions, but it will only need one lapse at the back and Fulham will be in control.
Victor Kristiansen should have done better after carving out space but slicing his shot wide.
Fulham went close through Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey before the break. But if Leicester want to stop the rot, they need to find the net - something they have struggled with recently.
Dan King at the Gtech Community Stadium
It's nervy one, this, now.
The home fans are getting restless because of the number of chances their team is giving up and the sense that Liverpool will surely score at some point.
But the longer the visitors dominate without breaking the deadlock, the more their own fears, and those of their supporters will grow, that it is going to be another one of those days.
The Reds had nine corners in the half but have not made any of them count like they did at Forest last Tuesday night.
Half time scores
The three Premier League scores at half time:
Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
Leicester 0-0 Fulham
West Ham vs Crystal Palace
HALF TIME! Leicester 0-0 Fulham
And it's a copy and paste job. Fulham dominant at the break but chances at either end. No goals.
HALF TIME! Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool knocking at the door but as of yet unable to break it down.
Goalless at the Gtech.
HALF TIME! West Ham 0-0 Crystal Palace
Not too much to discuss there.
Chances amiss
Chris Sutton tells BBC Radio 5 Live: "Liverpool cannot keep passing up opportunities like they are. Brilliant work, devastating on the counter.
"Mark Flekken does brilliant to narrow the angle but Cody Gakpo's effort is tame and weak.
"How many chances are Liverpool going to waste?"
39 - Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
Gakpo is picked out excellently by Salah as Liverpool counter.
Flekken rushes off his line and Gakpo manages to get it past him - using his heel it looks like - but it just rolls harmlessly wide.
Let-off for the Bees.
On top?
How is this game still goalless?
Liverpool with eight corners and 12 shots on goal after just less than 40 minutes on the clock. Just the three of those on target, though.
They've had the bulk of the possession too but Brentford look really dangerous going forward.
35 - Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
SZOBOSZLAI HITS THE BAR!
What a hit and what a stunning goal this would've been.
Szoboszlai allowed to take his time to line it up, take a couple of touches to set himself 25 yards from goal, on the right of centre and he smashes a shot which beats Flekken but flicks the crossbar on the way by and away over to safety.
So close to a bit of magic
Jack Rosser at the London Stadium
It is freezing at the London Stadium and the football has done nothing to distract anyone from that fact.
The play and atmosphere are both flat as anything. West Ham again are moving the ball with a bit more pace than they did under Julen Lopetegui.
But with just Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta as they're attacking options chances are hard to come by.
Dan King at the Gtech Community Stadium
A strangely subdued atmosphere at the Gtech. It's been a decent game, though.
The duel between Bryan Mbeumo and Kostas Tsimikas is going to be crucial. The Greek picked up an early booking for tugging back Brentford's main man and now the home side are trying to isolate him against Mbeumo as often as possible.
Liverpool are lacking authority at both ends of the pitch with Luis Diaz fluffing a chance. The first goal is very important in this one.
Graham Hill at the King Power
It’s looking even between the sides at the moment, but you can sense Fulham know Leicester have a fragile defence and can always concede.
Jamie Vardy caused some early problems for Fulham. The 38-year-old showed he still has a devastating turn of pace and his cross into the box almost forced former Foxes defender Timothy Castagne to put through his own goal - only a Bernd Leno save spared his blushes.
Fulham look a threat going forward and Harry Wilson set up Emile Smith-Rowe who curled his shot just wide.
26 – West Ham 0-0 Crystal Palace
Michael Dawson told Soccer Saturday: "Yeah pretty dull, nil-nil."
That's him being kind...
22 - West Ham 0-0 Crystal Palace
Just a couple of shots at goal from either side as they've cancelled each other out at present.
Mateta gets in down the right and forces a very good save from Fabianski who pushes it away at full stretch.
Edson Alvarez then tries his luck from distance but can't beat a cluster of players in front of him.
That Damsgaard miss...
A picture never really does the game justice, admittedly.
But the video footage is even worse than this miss looks still. Not entirely sure how they're not in front, Brentford.
