Aston Villa – Arsenal

1. Arsenal know that just a point will send them back to the top of the Premiership table. Join us live from 14.00 GMT.

2. Aston Villa manager David O'Leary makes three changes, two of them enforced. Striker Darius Vassell (hamstring) and midfielder Gavin McCann (knee) both fail to recover from knocks suffered against Liverpool and are replaced by Marcus Allback and Thomas Hitzlsperger. O'Leary also decides to bring back Ronny Johnsen into the heart of the Villa defence in place of Dion Dublin.

3. Arsene Wenger makes just the one alteration to his starting line. Young striker Jeremie Aliadiere is injured and makes way for Kanu.

4. 1'

   Arsenal get the game underway

5. 2'

   Campbell fouls Whittingham, and that's a free-kick ten yards outside the box

6. 3'

   Hitzlsperger stands over it, but it's Hendrie who curls it into the box - only for Campbell to head clear

7. 4'

   Cygan looks for Henry and Pires, and after a bit of ping-pong in the box Delaney is there to clear

8. 5'

   Hitzlsperger floats in a free-kick from the right flank, and Angel just fails to get on the end of it. Goal-kick

9. 6'

   Foul by Hitzlsperger on Ljungberg - high boot.

10. 7'

    Hitzlsperger wins the ball from Henry. The French striker is far from happy - he wanted a free-kick

11. 8'

    Henry finds Angel, but he hesitates and Cole is able to make the tackle

12. 8'

    Now the ball comes to Barry, Allback has space on the left and Barry tries to play him in, only for Lauren to stick out a boot and just intercept

13. 9'

    Hitzlsperger tries a shot from 25 yards, but it's wayward

14. 10'

    It's a good start from Villa, full of energy and running. Arsenal are not being allowed any time on the ball.

15. 11'

    Corner to Villa, Johnsen comes up from the back. Barry delivers from the right - but straight into the hands of Lehmann

16. 12'

    Kanu breaks into the box and gets to the byline, he looks to cut the ball back, it clips off Samuel and goes behind for a corner - almost an own goal. The set-piece comes to nothing

17. 13'

    Johnsen pushes Lauren. A chance to deliver into the box from the right-hand touchline for the Gunners

18. 14'

    The delivery from Pires is poor, enabling Hendrie to clear his lines

19. 15'

    The ball is played back towards the box by Cole, Samuel heads out only for Pires to try and audicious first time volley, which Sorensen has to push over the top

20. 16'

    That was a great strike from Pires, the same execution as shown by Geremi for Chelsea a few weeks back. Again, the corner comes to nothing

21. 17'

    Arsenal are taking control now after weathering the early storm

22. 18'

    Pires sidesteps to make space for himself before unleashing an effort from 25 yards, which Sorensen is able to keep out on the stretch and then grasp

23. 19'

    Pires finds Ljungberg on the right, he cuts it back for Henry, who holds off Samuel. Henry gets in a shot but sees his effort blocked by a defender

24. 20'

    Henry chases the loose ball, followed by Samuel. And the Frenchman is caught in the face by the arm of Samuel and goes down needing a bit of treatment, and is forced off the field

25. 21'

    The Villa fans are furious with Henry - they claim he's made a meal of the situation, but the striker is bleeding from the mouth

26. 22'

    Delaney plays Angel through, he's in on goal and it's a great chance. Angel opts to lift it over Lehmann but it goes over the bar. Villa should have the lead.

27. 23'

    There's a bit of trouble for the linesman - his flag has broken! The fourth official does his duty and runs on with a replacement

28. 24'

    Henry returns to the action

29. 25'

    Pires finds space on the right, he looks for Henry in the centre only for Johnsen to get back and clear

30. 26'

    Pires has been outstanding today, popping up all over the pitch looking to create the opening - or the breakthrough

31. 27'

    Angel finds space on the right, he looks up and picks out Allback in the box. The Swede turns and shoots inches wide of the post. So close. It took a slight deflection, but goal-kick is the call.

32. 28'

    Vieira is caught by a late challege from Johnsen and that's a free-kick to Arsenal in the D, a great chance for the opener. Henry takes it quickly...

33. 29'

    GOAL!!!!!

34. 30'

    The wall was still being set, Henry just took it before the whistle and it stands! Sorensen was at the other side of his goal and had no chance

35. 31'

    Henry clearly must have asked if he could take it quickly. Referee Halsey said 'yes' and Arsenal have the lead. Delaney is booked in the aftermath for his protests

36. 32'

    Henry's shot is spilled by Sorensen, but the keeper is able to scramble to claim the loose ball

37. 33'

    Barry looks for Angel but the flag goes up for offside, it's very tight but maybe just about right

38. 34'

    Cygan holds back Angel, free-kick

39. 35'

    Now Mellberg blocks the run of Ljungberg, and he'll enter the book for pesistant infringement of the rules

40. 36'

    Arsenal play keep ball and are beginning to look comfortable, Villa need half-time

41. 37'

    Vieira tries and audacious effort from 35 yards, which cannons off the head of Whittingham

42. 38'

    Henry blocks the run of Samuel and there's a chance to get the ball into the box. Hendrie delivers, but it's a poor cross and is headed clear

43. 39'

    Whittingham loops a ball over the top for Allback, he finds the back of the net but is clearly yards offside

44. 40'

    Villa improving a bit as half-time approaches, but they're still finding it hard to find a way through

45. 41'

    The atmopsphere has died a bit following the Gunners' goal, the Villa fans had been in fine voice

46. 42'

    Lauren brings down Barry, another free-kick, taken short

47. 43'

    Pires is the latest player to be fouled, by Whittingham

48. 44'

    Arsenal playing the ball around well, in control again as we head to the break

49. 45'

    Whittingham hacks Gilberto to the floor with a wild challenge. No attempt to play the ball, and a certain booking. That's his fifth of the season and he'll miss Villa's home game against Leeds

50. 45'

    Two minutes to be added on

51. 45'

    Villa are getting very frustated now, a lot of rash tackles flying in and three in the book already following the goal

52. 45'

    And there goes the half-time whistle

53. 45'

    Villa started well enough, but Arsenal soon found their feet. The Gunners' goal was certainly cheeky and without doubt controversial

54. 45'

    The Villa crowd boo referee Halsey as he leaves the field - and goalkeeper Sorensen continues to protest. But it won't change the scoreline - 1-0 to the Arsenal.

55. 46'

    Villa start the second period

56. 47'

    Angel cuts inside from the left, but his shot at the near post is a regulation save for Lehmann

57. 48'

    Pires trips Delaney, free-kick

58. 49'

    It's a good start from Villa again, just like the first half

59. 50'

    Allback breaks through, and Lehmann has to come rushing out of his box to make the tackle with his feet. An important challenge

60. 51'

    Henry comes forward with pace and purpose. He shifts it past his man, but Sorensen is equal to the shot

61. 52'

    Free-kick to Villa, five yards outside the box. Ljungberg and Gilberto stand in front of the ball to prevent the copycat quick shot. Angel takes...

62. 53'

    It's a brilliant curling effort from Angel but it just drops the wrong side of the bar, Lehmann was nowhere

63. 53'

    Kanu shows brilliant skill, dinking left and then right. But, as is so often the case, he tries to do too much - but Mellberg then blocks his run into the box and refree Halsey points to the spot

64. 53'

    Henry steps up to take the penalty...

65. 53'

    GOAL!!!!!

66. 54'

    Sorenson, diving to his left, got a glove to the ball - but there was just too much power in Henry's penalty, and the Gunners are heading back to the top of the table

67. 55'

    The penalty award was maybe a little harsh, it could be argued that Kanu ran into Mellberg, but that's history now and it's two goals for Henry

68. 56'

    Hitzlsperger is dragged back by Vieira and the Arsenal skipper enters the book. And that yellow card means he will miss the Gunners' game against Manchester City in a few weeks' time

69. 57'

    Samuel takes the free-kick, but the move breaks down

70. 58'

    Henry moves forward on the right and plays a low ball across the face of goal - only for the outstreched boot of Ljungberg to send it wide

71. 59'

    Hitzlsperger tries a powerful effort from just outside the box but hits Cygan

72. 60'

    Ljungberg is caught late by a nasty challenge from Barry. There's only one outcome - another booking

73. 61'

    Henry picks out Pires at the back stick, only for the French winger to get his header wrong - goal-kick

74. 62'

    Barry does well to play a sqaure ball to Allback eight yards out, but he's always leaning back and fires well over. Only a half chance

75. 63'

    Vieira fells Hitzlsperger, yet another free-kick

76. 64'

    Villa are still trying to get back into this game, despite the two-goal deficit

77. 65'

    Samuel does well down the right, but delivers a poor ball into the gloves of Lehmann

78. 66'

    Samuel wins a corner this time. It's delivered from the left by Barry and Lehmann needs two attempts to claim

79. 67'

    Now Ljungberg's cross, from the right, can only find the goalkeeper's hands

80. 68'

    Hendrie's cross is met by the head of Barry, but it loops harmlessly over the bar

81. 69'

    Villa continue to probe, but have rarely tested Lehmann - and are also in danger of being caught on the break

82. 70'

    Samuel brusts down the left, but yet again his final ball is woeful - far too deep and it gifts a goal-kick to the visitors

83. 71'

    Free-kick for Villa after a handball by Pires

84. 72'

    Now Angel climbs on Cole, and yet again the referee blows his whistle

85. 73'

    With Sorensen off his line Cole opts to shoot from just ten yards inside the Villa half, but it goes way over

86. 74'

    Henry lays the ball off for Pires around the D, he looks to bend one into the top corner - and gets it horribly wrong and horribly wide. Goal-kick

87. 75'

    Arsenal to make three changes. Ray Parlour replaces Freddie Ljungberg. Robert Pires is replaced by Edu and Kolo Toure is on for Nwankwo Kanu

88. 76'

    Hitzlsperger tries one from the edge of the box, but fires wide

89. 77'

    Parlour unleashes an effort from the angle of the box and it flies inches wide of the upright, oh so close to a third for Arsenal

90. 78'

    Time is running our for Aston Villa now, they don't look like many an inroad into Arsenal's advantage

91. 79'

    Whittingham's shot is blocked by Gilberto

92. 80'

    Both sides now look ready for the final whistle. Villa beaten, Arsenal happy with the 2-0 scoreline

93. 81'

    Edu drags back Delaney - a chance for Villa. Hendrie delivers from the left flank, but his cross is headed clear

94. 82'

    Parlous looks for the run of Toure - playing up front, only for Mellberg to make the interception

95. 83'

    Villa make a triple change themselves. Gareth Barry is off for Peter Crouch. Lee Hendrie is replaced by Ulises de la Cruz. And Liam Ridgewell is on for Marcus Allback

96. 84'

    Toure breaks through the centre - but the offside flag has gone up

97. 85'

    Hitzlsperger takes a quick free-kick but, on the stretch, Mellberg can't direct his header

98. 86'

    Free-kick to Villa. Hitzlsperger drifts it into the box, Campbell heads clear

99. 87'

    Toure bursts into the Villa half and creates a chance, only for his powerful effort to held by Sorensen

100. 88'

     Ridgewell finds space on the left. His hanging cross finds Angel, but the Colombian canot get power on the header and it's easy for Lehmann

101. 89'

     "Two nil to the referee", chant the Villa faithful

102. 90'

     Two minutes to be added on

103. 90'

     Cygan brings down Angel, and there's the chance for a consolation. Angel takes it himself but only hits the wall

104. 90'

     Henry breaks forward, cuts inside for the shot - easy for Sorensen

105. 90'

     And there goes the final whistle

106. 90'

     They may have had a helping hand from the referee, but it was a regulation win for Arsenal. They never really stepped up into second gear and return to the top of the Premiership table

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