Arsenal – Aston Villa

1. Live updates will appear here from 1315 GMT.

2. Hello and welcome to the live commentary for the Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa.

3. Both managers will view this as a gauge of their respective ambitions - title and top four - and both will want to avoid defeat at all costs.

4. Arsenal are without Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner still, while Cesc Fabregas is fit enough only for the bench. Eduardo starts alongside Arshavin.

5. Heskey was an injury doubt for Villa, but he starts up front with Agbonlahor. Milner continues in the centre with Ashley Young and Downing on the flanks.

6. Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Traore, Song, Denilson, Nasri, Diaby, Eduardo, Arshavin. Subs: Fabianski, Fabregas, Vela, Walcott, Ramsey, Silvestre, Eboue.

7. Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock, Ashley Young, Petrov, Milner, Downing, Agbonlahor, Heskey. Subs: Guzan, Sidwell, Carew, Delph, Reo-Coker, Beye, Collins.

8. Phil Dowd is the referee at the Emirates Stadium today.

9. The players are now coming out onto the pitch.

10. 1'

    Aston Villa get the game underway!

11. 2'

    Downing puts in a cross from out on the left, but it's gathered by Almunia.

12. 3'

    Arsenal win a free-kick in a promising position.

13. 3'

    Nasri swings in the free-kick and it's nearly turned in at the far post, with Warnock scrambling it away!

14. 4'

    Eduardo misses a glorious chance! Diaby does well to get into the box and finds Eduardo, who turns well but then passes the ball to Friedel with a free shot inside the area!

15. 6'

    Arsenal win a corner through Eduardo.

16. 6'

    Eduardo puts it towards the near post, where Heskey heads it behind for another corner.

17. 7'

    This one goes short to Nasri, and Denilson fires a decent effort just over the bar from outside the area.

18. 9'

    Aston Villa hold the ball in an attacking position as they again look to progress down the left.

19. 9'

    Heskey sees a shot deflected wide after he saw the ball returned to him after a knock-down to Agbonlahor. Arsenal goal kick.

20. 12'

    Arshavin hits a shot on the turn with his left from the edge of the area and, predictably given the circumstances, it's an easy save for Friedel.

21. 13'

    Ashley Young sees a shot loop just over the bar after a deflection! Villa are looking dangerous in attack.

22. 14'

    The corner causes confusion in the Arsenal box but it's cleared for a throw-in.

23. 14'

    Cuellar sidefoots a shot well wide from the edge of the area.

24. 15'

    Luke Young deals with a ball over the top as Arshavin looks to take advantage.

25. 16'

    Sagna attempts a high, deep cross after Villa give away possession, but there's no one there.

26. 17'

    Denilson trips Petrov deep into the Villa half as an Arsenal attack breaks down.

27. 18'

    The ball breaks kindly for Eduardo just inside the area, but his control is a little lacking and he loses the ball.

28. 19'

    Downing nudges the ball just wide as Vermaelen heads a cross into Traore's path and he's unable to react quickly enough.

29. 20'

    Song is given a talking to but no yellow card after a trip breaks up another Villa attack.

30. 20'

    Dunne puts the ball in the net, but he'd already been penalised for barging Almunia as he tried to claim a Milner cross.

31. 22'

    Warnock brings down Nasri as Arsenal win a free-kick out on the right.

32. 22'

    Diaby heads over from Nasri's free-kick. He failed to control the header.

33. 24'

    Warnock makes a good tackle to stop an Arsenal attack as they break into the area.

34. 25'

    Eduardo's corner is cleared at the near post.

35. 25'

    Vermaelen heads away a cross from the right and Arsenal counter.

36. 26'

    Diaby looks to spark an Arsenal attack but the cross from the left is headed away.

37. 27'

    Song is belatedly penalised for another poor tackle as Phil Dowd tries to allow the advantage. He could soon be in the book.

38. 27'

    A deep free-kick into the area is headed down towards Almunia for an easy save.

39. 29'

    Neither side is able to find a way through at the moment.

40. 30'

    Nasri fires a deflected shot just over after a touch back from Denilson.

41. 30'

    Song heads over from the corner.

42. 31'

    Denilson wins a free-kick inside the D of the penalty area after a series of challenges force him to the ground.

43. 32'

    Denilson blasts the free-kick directly into the wall and Sagna fires the rebound over the bar. A chance lost for Arsenal.

44. 34'

    Vermaelen looks to find Arshavin with a long ball, but Warnock nods it back to Friedel.

45. 35'

    Denilson brings down Petrov inside the Villa half. Arsenal have looked far better in the last few minutes after Villa enjoyed a series of chances.

46. 37'

    Arshavin looks to roll his way around his marker and latch onto a through-ball, but he just can't make it.

47. 37'

    Sagna sends a cross straight behind for a goal kick.

48. 38'

    Agbonlahor momentarily appears to have been given onside as he's played clean through by a long ball, but the flag eventually goes up and he was some distance beyond the last defender.

49. 41'

    Arshavin looks to raid Warnock but ends up putting the ball out for a goal kick.

50. 42'

    Arshavin causes problems down the left and wins a corner.

51. 43'

    Nasri sends it in but Dunne heads clear.

52. 44'

    Arsenal win a free-kick midway into the Villa half and Gallas joins the attack.

53. 44'

    Villa scramble the free-kick away despite Arshavin and later Diaby trying to force it back onto the area.

54. 45'

    Warnock slips as he looks to clear the ball in the area but escapes unpunished. Arsenal corner.

55. 45'

    Eduardo sends it in and Villa put it out for another corner.

56. 45'

    This time it's headed clear. One minute of added time.

57. 46'

    Denilson fires a speculative shot straight at Friedel.

58. 47'

    Ashley Young concedes a free-kick. Arsenal will try to whip it into the box if they have time.

59. 47'

    Eduardo curls it in but Friedel claims relatively easily.

60. 47'

    It's half-time and still 0-0 at the Emirates. Arsenal have had the better of it but Villa have caused serious problems at times.

61. 46'

    The players are now coming back out onto the field.

62. 46'

    Arsenal kick off the second half. Both sides will have reason for encouragement from the first half but need to improve in front of goal.

63. 46'

    Nasri puts a ball into the box but it's easily dealt with.

64. 47'

    Arsenal break into a dangerous position after some neat passing play, but again the cross from the right is headed clear.

65. 48'

    Fabregas is warming up on the sidelines.

66. 49'

    Villa pump a free-kick long upfield and Milner crosses in, but it's headed clear with no difficulty.

67. 50'

    Arshavin breaks for Arsenal but the move breaks down.

68. 52'

    The ball is currently bogged down in midfield as the teams struggle to find the right passes.

69. 53'

    Vermaelen and Agbonlahor get involved in a battle for the ball as the Arsenal defender tracks back. Both refuse to give it up until the referee awards a free-kick to Vermaelen.

70. 54'

    Warnock bursts down the left and wins a corner from Nasri.

71. 54'

    Ashley Young whips it in and Almunia surprisingly opts to punch, although he gets it clear.

72. 55'

    Ashley Young goes down under a challenge from Song, but the referee books the Villa winger for diving.

73. 56'

    Young will now miss the next game, at home to Liverpool.

74. 56'

    Friedel makes a save from Eduardo from a free-kick and Heskey is forced to put the ball behind as it comes back into the box.

75. 56'

    It's cleared off the line from the corner!

76. 56'

    Eduardo headed it towards goal and Gallas knocked it on, but Friedel saved and it was hooked clear.

77. 57'

    Fabregas comes on in place of Denilson.

78. 58'

    Eduardo is fouled by Petrov just inside the Villa half and gets a final warning from Phil Dowd.

79. 59'

    Fabregas takes the free-kick and it's not far away from the top corner, although Friedel had it covered.

80. 60'

    Agbonlahor plays a ball into the box, but Traore deals with it well.

81. 60'

    Arsenal have another effort blocked on the line as Fabregas supplied Eduardo!

82. 61'

    Arshavin forces a great low save from Friedel and Arsenal just can't tuck in the rebound! Corner kick.

83. 61'

    Villa clear the danger.

84. 62'

    The referee gives a foul against Fabregas as he tackles Agbonlahor by the halfway line.

85. 62'

    Heskey is substituted for Carew.

86. 63'

    The free-kick comes to nothing and Arsenal make another change, with Walcott on for Eduardo.

87. 64'

    Dunne brings down Fabregas 25 yards from goal.

88. 65'

    Fabregas lines up the free-kick.

89. 65'

    GOAL FOR ARSENAL!

90. 65'

    Fabregas fires the free-kick straight into the net! Superb free-kick leaving Friedel with no hope of making the save.

91. 66'

    Song picks up a free-kick for diving as he goes down under minimal contact in the middle of the pitch.

92. 68'

    Agbonlahor looks to break away down the right but he's given offside.

93. 69'

    Arshavin apprears to win a corner but the ball is not deemed to have gone out of play.

94. 69'

    Another Fabregas free-kick is lined up, this one deep on the left.

95. 69'

    It goes into the box but Gallas strays offside.

96. 70'

    Song fires over the bar from the edge of the D after good work from Walcott created a chance in the area for Arsenal.

97. 72'

    Sagna does well to deal with the danger as Agbonlahor threatens to cause problems.

98. 73'

    Both sides are getting into good attacking positions but nothing is quite coming off.

99. 74'

    Walcott threatens to use his pace to expose Warnock, but Villa come out on top.

100. 74'

     Fabregas puts a free-kick into the box but it's headed away easily.

101. 75'

     Cuellar picks up a booking as he tugs back Fabregas.

102. 76'

     Luke Young is replaced by Delph as Martin O'Neill looks to adopt a more attacking approach.

103. 76'

     Arsenal's deep free-kick is headed away from trouble.

104. 76'

     Villa escape another scare as Dunne deals with a dangerous cross.

105. 77'

     Walcott fires the ball across the face of goal but it's overhit and fails to find Song.

106. 78'

     Young puts in a cross from the left and, while there is confusion in the box, it's out for a corner.

107. 78'

     Almunia clears the corner and supplues Arshavin.

108. 79'

     Arshavin nearly creates something but is ultimately outnumbered.

109. 80'

     Villa win a free-kick out on the right, but Almunia punches it clear.

110. 80'

     Song trips Delph but Delph takes the free-kick instantly. It eventually comes to Young on the left, but the cross is cleared. Villa are turning up the pressure.

111. 81'

     GOAL FOR ARSENAL!

112. 81'

     Fabregas fires home from close range after an inch-perect pass from Walcott. Traore had fired in an excellent pass from defence after Milner gave away possession.

113. 82'

     Fabregas may have damaged his hamstring in scoring the goal.

114. 84'

     Young curls in a dangerous cross, but it's headed away. Milner then finds Carew, but the cross is just too high for him to control.

115. 84'

     Fabregas is taken off again having scored twice, with Ramsey taking his place.

116. 85'

     Young tries to put a ball into the centre from inside the box, but it's straight out for a goal kick.

117. 86'

     Agbonlahor goes one-on-one with Almunia but Gallas gets back to block before Almunia brilliantly pushes behind as the Villa striker threatens to tuck it in.

118. 87'

     The corner is dealt with and the ball eventually comes to Almunia.

119. 88'

     An Arsenal attack breaks down but Arshavin delights the fans with a nutmeg as he retreats from goal.

120. 89'

     Phil Dowd has told Song that he cannot commit any more fouls after he gives away another free-kick.

121. 90'

     The free-kick is lobbed into the box and, while Dunne wants a corner, it's straight out for a goal kick.

122. 91'

     There will be four minutes of stoppage time.

123. 91'

     GOAL FOR ARSENAL!

124. 91'

     Abou Diaby scores a spectacular solo effort, picking the ball up by the centre circle before running towards the area and curling into the bottom corner from outside the D.

125. 92'

     The result now looks a little harsh on Villa, but they have struggled to create chances in the second half.

126. 93'

     Delph picks up a yellow card for a frustrated kick as Arsenal start showboating.

127. 94'

     It's all over and Arsenal have delivered a massive Christmas present to their fans with a 3-0 win over top-four rivals Aston Villa.

128. 94'

     Villa looked fairly comfortable in the first half, but Fabregas made the difference after coming on as a substitute before going off with an apparent injury. Abou Diaby wrapped up the scoring in injury time.

129. 94'

     Thanks for joining us and stick with ESPN Soccernet for the report and post-match reaction.

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