That Mikel Merino's goal was ruled out late on for a Kai Havertz handball rubbed salt in the wounds but Mikel Arteta's mask finally slipped post-match as the Arsenal boss conceded that keeping pace with Liverpool was simply proving too difficult for the threadbare Gunners.

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are “very short” in attack and need reinforcements after they dropped more points in the title race by drawing with Aston Villa. The Gunners had been two goals to the good against Villa, but conceded twice in the space of eight second-half minutes to draw.

Arsenal could only manage a draw against Aston Villa as Mikel Arteta bemoaned his lack of options on the bench after his side were unable to earn victory and fell further behind Liverpool