A wonder goal from Robert Pires and a superb penalty save by David Seaman
enabled Arsenal to keep the heat on leaders Manchester United and maintain their
unbeaten away record in the FA Barclaycard Premiership.
Pires produced another goal out of the top drawer to double the Gunners lead
after Seaman - in front of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson - had saved Gareth
Barry's spot-kick.
The home side staged a late rally and reduced the arrears through substitute
Dion Dublin but Arsenal held on to cut the Red Devils lead to one point - and
they have a crucial game in hand.
Arsenal had dominated the opening 45 minutes without firing on all cylinders
and the home side struggled to cope with the power of Patrick Vieira and the
skill of Dennis Bergkamp and Pires.
There looked a massive gulf between the sides as Arsenal looked so menacing on
the counter-attack and the home side were indebted to a splendid performance
from defender Mark Delaney.
After the break the contest was more evenly matched despite Seaman's penalty
save and Pires' wonder goal.
Villa refused to buckle and Dublin brought a threat in the air that had not
ben evident in the first half.
But in the cold light of day Arsene Wenger will have been delighted to
overcome a potential banana skin to his side's hopes of staying in the title
hunt before the crucial Champions League game with Juventus.
Arsenal were into their stride from the first whistle and the impressive
Bergkamp sent Pires through on goal after a decisive touch - but the Frenchman
was denied by a superb tackle from Villa full-back Delaney just as he prepared
to shoot at the expense of a corner.
The Gunners looked dangerous every time they ventured forward and it came as
no surprise when they went ahead after Hassan Kachloul was adjudged to have
fouled Edu some 25 yards out.
Bergkamp rolled the ball to Sylvain Wiltord who fired in a low dipping effort
which Villa keeper Peter Schmeichel could only parry.
He was up quickly to block the rebound effort from Patrick Vieira but the ball
broke back to Edu, who steered it into an unguarded net from around the penalty
spot.
Villa tried to instantly retaliate and Seaman beat away a shot from a narrow
angle by Darius Vassell.
But Villa looked under threat everytime Arsene Wenger's side attacked although
clearcut chances were at a premium in the opening 45 minutes on a heavy pitch
and in driving rain.
Villa skipper Paul Merson, restored to the starting line-up after a two-game
absence, looked the most likely to bring his side back into the hunt against his
former colleagues.
The 34-year-old midfielder was only just too high with a curling effort after
Gareth Barry had rolled the ball back into his path.
Then Merson found the overlapping Jlloyd Samuel in space on the left and his
cross picked out Barry, whose effort was deflected over the bar.
Taylor brought on Dion Dublin and Mustapha Hadji in place of Vassell and
Kachloul for the second period while Lee Dixon replaced injured Arsenal defender
Igor Stepanovs.
Villa were given the chance to get back on level terms after 55 minutes when
Dixon was adjudged to have brought down Barry after good play by Dublin and
Hadji.
Barry stepped up to take the penalty himself but Seaman guessed correctly and
palmed the ball away with his hand above his head in superb fashion.
Then four minutes later a superb goal from Robert Pires enabled the Gunners to
double their lead.
Ljungberg found Pires with a deep pass and he calmly chipped the ball over
Boateng and then lobbed the advancing Schmeichel.
Villa now had a mountain to climb but Dublin was causing problems in the air
and he was only just off target with a header from a Staunton free-kick.
But the former England striker was not to be denied and in the 70th minute he
halved the deficit.
Hadji did well to wriggle himself to the byline and sent over a superb
left-wing cross which Dublin was first to meet as he sent a glancing header past
Seaman.
But, for all their huffing and puffing in the final quarter, Seaman was not
seriously tested again.
Teams:
Aston Villa: Schmeichel, Delaney, Mellberg, Staunton, Samuel,
Kachloul (Hadji 45), Boateng, Hitzlsperger, Barry,
Merson (Hendrie 79), Vassell (Dublin 45).
Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Stone.
Booked: Boateng.
Goals: Dublin 69.
Arsenal: Seaman, Lauren, Campbell, Stepanovs (Dixon 45),
Luzhny, Ljungberg (Grimandi 71), Vieira, Edu, Pires,
Bergkamp (Kanu 76), Wiltord.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Tavlaridis.
Booked: Luzhny, Ljungberg.
Goals: Edu 15, Pires 60.
Att: 41,520
Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).
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