Arsenal's veteran defender Lee Dixon salvaged a point that his side's performance barely merited with a late equaliser in the Premiership encounter at Aston Villa.

John Gregory's side had looked on the way to three points after new signing Luc Nilis saw rookie striker Richard Walker produce the kind of clinical finishing that has been his own trademark to put the home side in front.

Nilis, who will join from PSV Eindhoven next season after signing a twoyear contract today, would have admired the cool way 22-year-old Walker tucked away only his second senior goal.

It had been no more than Villa deserved against an Arsenal side who forlong periods were a shadow of the team which thrashed Deportivo La Coruna 5-1 in the UEFA Cup on Thursday.

But Villa paid for some poor first half finishing by Julian Joachim as Dixon stole in with just six minutes remaining to salvage a point for the Gunners with one of their few worthwhile attacks.

However, their French midfielder Emmanuel Petit could be in hot water with the Football Association after appearing to make a gesture towards the crowd after he had been substituted in the 73rd minute.

Petit was booked for persistent fouling and instantly taken off by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

But as he sat down he appeared to react to comments made to him by fans sat behind the dug-out and delivered a one fingered gesture in their direction.

Gregory will look upon it as two points lost in Villa's bid to make a late charge for a UEFA Cup spot.

There was much to admire in his side's overall performance from the likes of former Gunner Paul Merson, Mark Delaney and Steve Stone.

But how they were left to regret squandering several good opportunities - the kind that Nilis, with 230 goals in 379 games for Anderlecht and PSVEindhoven, would have gobbled up.

The first half was most notable for the poor finishing of Joachim who troubled Arsenal with his pace but failed to deliver that killer touch.

Villa were the first to threaten and Alan Wright should have at least tested England keeper David Seaman in the second minute after finding himself in space.

Mark Delaney's right-wing centre went behind Richard Walker, who was making his full Premiership debut, but instead found Wright 10 yards outand he hurried his shot which flew high and wide.

Walker headed a Joachim centre wide after Arsenal defender Martin Keown had only half cleared the initial ball into the box from former Arsenal star Paul Merson.

Arsenal - brimming with confidence after their mauling of Deportivo - then started to come more into the game with Dennis Bergkamp hungry for the ball.

He produced the Gunners first effort on target - a dipping 20-yard shot which was comfortably saved by Peter Enckelman.

Villa continued to pose the more tangible threat and Ugo Ehiogu and IanTaylor got in headers containing plenty of power but off the target.

But Joachim should have done better when he found himself clear of the Arsenal defence after Steve Stone had created the opening by dispossessing Gilles Grimandi.

The pint-sized striker looked to get caught in two minds, unsure whether to shoot or take the ball around Seaman, and in the end the England keeper was able to save comfortably at his feet.

In contrast, Joachim had another clear-cut opportunity to break the deadlock after Walker had flicked on a long clearance.

He got in behind Dixon but Seaman was equal to his rising shot from just inside the area.

Joachim then got into another promising position after robbing Dixon onthe left but he then chose the wrong option by firing a low shot into the side netting when two players were better placed in the area.

Arsenal had plenty of possession but it was 44 minutes before Enckelman was called upon to make a meaningful save when he clung onto a low effort from Bergkamp away to his left.

That was Bergkamp's last meaningful contribution with the Dutchman, wholooked to have picked up a knock when fouled by Ehiogu, replaced by Marc Overmars.

The opening stages of the second period struggled to spark into life and it was a full 15 minutes before there was even a semblance of an opportunity.

Stone and Walker combined well before threading the ball into the path of Joachim - but he was crowded out by Keown, who shepherded the ball back to Seaman.

Villa were not to be denied and in the 63rd minute they finally found a way through the Gunners rearguard.

Merson floated over a teasing free-kick from the right flank and Walker got in ahead of Keown and Petit at the near post to send a glancing header wide of Seaman.

Then came the Petit incident but the visitors managed to salvage something from the game via Dixon's close-range effort.

Kanu played the ball into the path of the full-back and, as the otherwise impressive Gareth Barry slipped, he cashed in to drill a low shot past Enckelman.

Teams:

Aston Villa: Enckelman, Ehiogu, Southgate, Barry, Delaney, Taylor, Stone, Merson, Wright, Joachim, Walker (Hendrie 81).

Subs Not Used: Watson, Bartelt, Samuel, Curtolo.

Goals: Walker 62.

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Grimandi (Luzhny 50), Silvinho, Parlour, Vieira, Petit (Winterburn 73), Henry, Kanu, Bergkamp (Overmars 45).

Subs Not Used: Ljungberg, Manninger.

Booked: Petit.

Goals: Dixon 84.

Att: 36,930

Ref: G Poll (Tring).