Arsenal aren't one of the four good enough to win the title

Published 00:00 27/12/08 By By Martin Lipton Chief Football Writer

You're Right, Arsene, there are only four teams good enough to win the league.

The trouble is that Arsenal are not one of them and only the churlish would deny that Villa increasingly have what it takes.

It may have been deep into stoppage time that Zat Knight thrashed home the goal that ensured Martin O'Neill's men took the point that was the very least they had deserved.

But as Wenger's dismissive prediction that Villa are not serious contenders was placed into proper context, he cannot possibly imagine his own side have what it takes.

Just as the West Midlands police began writing out the crime report for an act of sheer theft, Knight's dramatic intervention put the record straight.

The defender's thumping finish ensured Villa did not pay the ultimate price for seven minutes of madness either side of the break.

Villa, all effort and zestful enthusiasm, demonstrated beyond doubt that they are the coming force in the Premier League, ready to gatecrash the Big Four. And had they not come away with something it would have been utterly unfair.

Wenger's amazing touchline flare-up with O'Neill showed how close the Frenchman remains to breaking point.

Once upon a time, nothing - except the sight of Alex Ferguson - raised more than a flicker of disdain from Wenger. Now, however, the Arsenal boss is increasingly walking a mental tightrope, the casualties that have ripped the heart and possibly the soul out of his side beginning to have an effect on the manager.

And Villa were ready to exploit this with Gareth Barry and Ashley Young showing true England form.

Yet O'Neill probably feared it was going to be one of those nights three minutes after the break, as he looked up and saw the scoreline that was so unjust as Denilson walked through Nigel Reo-Coker's challenge to net the opener and then Abou Diaby clipped home.

Villa had torn into Arsenal, seizing on their insecurities. In the sixth minute Steve Sidwell headed against the bar. It was followed by James Milner sliding a shot against the post and Curtis Davies hooking a shot against the woodwork. These escapes made Denilson's act of larceny all the more galling.

Even so, Villa still could have been level when Agbonlahor beat Almunia to a high ball to head goalwards, but Sagna produced a remarkable clearance from underneath the crossbar.

Sensational stuff, made to look all the more important as Arsenal doubled their lead when Diaby escaped Davies on half-way and kept on running as Emmanuel Eboue catered forward. The return ball was precise, as was the finish.

Yet Villa were not finished and when Lee Mason took his assistant's advice and ruled Gallas had fouled Agbonlahor, Barry thrashed home while the managers were holding their own angry inquest.

Game on, and Villa got what their effort demanded in the third minute of stoppage time.

Young flicked across goal, Barry turned back and Knight's left foot hammered in off the post.

Villa: Friedel 7, Reo-Coker 6, Davies 7, Knight 6, L Young 7, Sidwell 7, Petrov 6, Barry 8, Milner 7, A Young 8, Agbonlahor 7

Arsenal: Almunia 7, Sagna 8, Toure 5, Gallas 7, Silvestre 6, Eboue 6, Song 5 (Ramsey, 43, 6), Denilson 7, Nasri 5 (Clichy 82, 6), Diaby 5, Van Persie 6

Ref: L Mason ATT: 42,585

COMPUTER

ASTON VILLA

ARSENAL

BALL POSSESSION

46% 54%

FACE TO FACE

7 Corners 6

3 Offside 0

68% Pass completion 69%

39 Tackles 30

11 Fouls 10