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Gabriel Martinelli poked the Gunners into the lead in the 35th minute, with visiting goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez unable to stop the Brazilian's effort from crossing the line.

Kai Havertz then fired Arsenal further in front 10 minutes after the restart, with the hosts looking set to close the gap to league leader Liverpool, which beat Brentford earlier in the day.

But Youri Tielemans reduced the deficit on the hour when he powerfully headed substitute Lucas Digne's cross past David Raya for his second top-flight goal of the season.

The turnaround was complete eight minutes later when Matty Cash's ball into the box was finished by Ollie Watkins, who rifled the ball in off the crossbar.

Arsenal thought it had won it when Mikel Merino’s strike deflected off Havertz, with the goal given on-field but overturned by the referee after a VAR review after the ball found its way in off the German’s hand.

Mikel Arteta's side continued to push for a winner in the closing stages, with Merino striking the post and Trossard's follow-up on the rebound saved by Martinez, but it was unable to find a way through late on.

Villa’s comeback saw it jump up to seventh in the table, while Arsenal remains in second, but is now six points behind Arne Slot’s Liverpool, which also has a game in hand.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery praised his players for their brilliant second-half display.

"It was fantastic. It was brilliant how the players reacted after the two goals," Emery said.

"In our mentality, we never give up and today, we never gave up and we tried to score one goal. The mentality we showed is the mentality we want.

Emery's players have now won 13 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season with only Manchester City (14) and Liverpool (14) having recovered more.

It was also the first time since 2013 that Villa had avoided a defeat after trailing by two goals or more in the Premier League, ending a run of 52 straight defeats.

Emery also hinted that he will be looking into the transfer market to equip his side for the second half of the season. 

"I want to build a team changing some small players in the squad and trying to use this transfer window to get stronger for the second part of the season," he said. 

Arsenal came into the game on the back of a 11-game unbeaten run in the league and although Villa failed to snap that run, it ran it close every inch of the way.

"Arsenal are very powerful at home. This is the level that we want to be close to, but we still have work to do as they're very strong in their way. To compete like we did is the only way to get something here," Emery said.

"They were pushing and creating some chances, but even with that we have another."

Though the draw extended Arsenal's unbeaten run in the league to 12 matches, coach Arteta believes his side deserved more.

"We were unbelievable. I am so proud of the way we played and how dominant and how fluid we were and how much we put into it," he said.

"We played three games in six days. So proud of them, but at the same time so disappointed. We deserve more. We didn't get it, and we are sad because of that.

"The speed, energy, quality and level of the performance. It is the best performance we have had against Villa as they're a really good side. But we need to get the result in."