Positives & negatives from Arsenal's 2-2 draw vs. Aston Villa

Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz getting back among the goals was good news for a previously blunted Arsenal attack, but Mikel Arteta will be worried about a creaking defence after seeing a two-goal lead wasted against Aston Villa, thanks to Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins finding the net.

Tielemans and an in-form Watkins punished Arsenal in less than 15 second-half minutes after falling 2-0 down. Those goals added voice to what had been an unspoken, but unmistakable truth.

Namely, how Arsenal's once-vaunted back line has been showing signs of frailty for significant portions of this season. The underlying weakness, which extends to the deep areas of midfield, helped make it advantage Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal sit six points adrift of the top after the Reds scored twice late to beat Brentford earlier in the day. Those injury time goals from substitute Darwin Nunez underlined the other key difference between the Gunners and Liverpool.

Namely, the latter's rich resources up front, something Arsenal fans can only dream about, even after seeing two forwards return to the goals.

Positives & negatives from Arsenal's 2-2 draw vs. Aston Villa

Positive #1: Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz back among the goals

Arsenal have been waiting for any member of the attack to pick up the slack while Bukayo Saka gets his hamstring right. Gabriel Jesus was doing his bit before being stretchered off during the FA Cup fiasco against Manchester United, so Martinelli and Havertz getting on the scoresheet during league duty was timely.

Martinelli's' first-half goal, just about bundled over the line, was just reward for an enterprising performance from the right flank Saka usually calls home. His replacement was all smart movement and the kind of direct appetite to attack Arsenal had been missing for too long in the final third.

As for Havertz, he had his stock half-dozen runs eradicated by the offside flag. The German was also undermined by a clumsy first touch more than once.

Yet for all his aesthetic failings, Havertz never lacks industry. He toiled and persevered until being teed up by a purposeful Leandro Trossard to give the Gunners what should've been an unassailable lead.

The inadvertent handball to rule out Mikel Merino's would-be winner put a major damper on Hevertz's night, but he has to look on the bright side after rediscovering his scoring touch.

Negative #1: Arsenal's increasingly shaky defence

William Saliba has been anointed the star of the group, and the central defender who's a favourite of hipsters everywhere, was sorely missed here.

The Frenchman's usual partner in the middle, Gabriel Magalhaes, looked cumbersome trying to track Watkins in the channels. Gabriel had appeared back to his vocal and aggressive best, but the Brazilian regressed amid a worrying lack of defensive cover from Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey at right-back.

Arsenal's previous defensive solidity was built upon communication and symmetry along the back four. Both qualities started to go missing over the festive period and continue to desert Arteta's team.

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