Arsenal vs Aston Villa LIVE: Latest score as late Merino goal is disallowed

Arsenal host Aston Villa at the Emirates in the Premier League with the Gunners looking to keep up the pressure on Liverpool.
Mikel Artetaโs side moved to within four points of the Reds at the summit of the Premier League after their north London derby success in midweek, though yet more injury strife indicates that they may need to spend in the transfer market to keep up their pursuit. While Liverpool do still have a game in hand, Arteta is certain that a re-energised title race will continue to twist and turn.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, will recognise that victory here would be a huge boost in the hunt for European football. They dealt their opponents a huge blow during last season and will be out to enact something similar in London this evening as they continue to balance league action with a promising continental campaign.
Follow all of the latest from the Emirates Stadium in our live blog below:
Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
93 min: Tielemans takes a shot from distance but itโs always going wide.
Arsenal come again. Can they find a winner?
Chris Wilson18 January 2025 19:22
Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
91 min: CLOSE! Villa survive again!
Arsenal are piling on the pressure here and they put the ball in the box. It comes back to Merino and he fires a low shot that cannons back off the post, before Trossard forces a good save from Martinez!
Thereโll be seven minutes of added time.
Chris Wilson18 January 2025 19:21
Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
90 min: It was an easy decision to disallow the goal, as the volley from Merino came off Havertzโs hand and deflected in. No controversy there.
Chris Wilson18 January 2025 19:20
GOAL DISALLOWED! Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
It all comes from great work from Rice, who skips past a challenge before swinging in a cross. It bounces to Merino on the edge of the box, and he fires a volley into the ground that takes a deflection off Havertz and goes in!
But hang on…drama at the Emirates! Itโs been disallowed!
Chris Wilson18 January 2025 19:18
Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
86 min: Arsenal are having plenty of possession at the moment but theyโre not really probing efficiently. In fact, they lose it near their own box and Villa counter well, with the ball eventually making its way to Bogarde on the edge of the box.
The Dutchman takes the shot but it takes a small defection before Raya makes the save.
Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
84 min: Sterling gets away from his man but his through ball runs out of play.
Villa bring on Leon Bailey for Jacob Ramsey.
Chris Wilson18 January 2025 19:13
Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
83 min: Arsenal finally make a change as Raheem Sterling comes on for Martinelli.
Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
81 min: Cash loses it deep into his own half but Merino canโt capitalise, before Trossard sees his cross headed away.
Arsenal come again but Odegaard sees his shot blocked.