• ‘Physically drained’ side drew 2-2 with Aston Villa
• ‘When you look at the bench … we are very, very short’

Mikel Arteta said that Arsenal cannot compete with Liverpool’s squad depth after watching his side surrender a 2-0 lead to Aston Villa to drop behind in the Premier League title race.

Two late goals from the substitute Darwin Núñez against Brentford stretched Arne Slot’s side’s lead to six points with a game in hand as Arsenal were pegged back by goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins. Despite his side chasing a late winner, Arteta did not make a substitution until the 82nd minute when he brought on the Chelsea loanee Raheem Sterling, who was the only senior attacking option available.