Arsenal stumble against Villa - report

Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 1

Arsenal now only lead the Barclaycard Premiership by the slenderest of margins after Kolo Toure’s own goal forced them to settle for a share of the spoils at Villa Park.

Toure sliced an attempted 71st-minute clearance past Stuart Taylor to cancel out Freddie Ljungberg’s opener 15 minutes earlier.

It means Arsene Wenger’s side now only head Manchester United on goal difference – with the two sides due to meet at Highbury on April 16.

The Gunners slumbered in the sunshine during the opening 45 minutes when they were hustled out of their normal fluency by Villa’s five-man midfield.

Whatever Wenger said at half-time appeared to do the trick as his side dominated the opening part of the second period and deservedly went ahead through Ljungberg.

They looked to have wrestled control with Gilberto impressing in the centre of the park.

But then came the moment of madness from Toure who turned a half-hit shot from Villa substitute Marcus Allback into his own net.

Villa overall deserved a point for their endeavour and once again Gareth Barry was their outstanding performer – even though he was switched from midfield to defence in a tactical reshuffle by manager Graham Taylor.

Skipper Olof Mellberg was also outstanding at the heart of the Villa back-line as they moved a point nearer to safety.

Taylor opted for a new-look 3-5-2 formation with Barry switching to the centre-back role he had operated in until 12 months ago.

Mellberg had to make a series of early interceptions although Gilberto did get on the end of a powerfully struck free-kick by Dennis Bergkamp only to send his glancing header wide.

Villa started to come more into the game and it needed a good tackle by Sol Campbell to halt the lively Lee Hendrie after good play by England’s mid-week goal hero Darius Vassell.

The ever alert Barry seized onto a loose ball, cut into the Arsenal penalty and was only just too high with a powerful rising drive.

Then Mustapha Hadji got on the edge of a right-wing cross from Ulises de la Cruz but his effort lacked both power and accuracy.

Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira became the first player to be yellow-carded after 23 minutes for a late challenge on Hendrie.

It was 31 minutes before Enckelman was called into meaningful action to comfortably deal with a low 25 yard effort from Freddie Ljungberg away to his right.

Gilberto sent a header over the bar from an inswinging Henry corner but both goalkeepers had a relatively trouble free time in dealing with a succession of ill directed crosses.

Henry summed up the quality of the first half when he sent his free-kick from 25 yards out high into the massed ranks of Arsenal fans behind Enckelman’s goal.

Arsenal made a brighter start to the second period and it needed a fine tackle by Ronny Johnsen to deny Bergkamp from breaking clear after he had ran onto a pass from Ljungberg.

Henry almost caught Enckelman out with a 25-yard volley from the left side of the Villa penalty area which dipped onto the top of the net.

The Villa keeper then dropped a cross from Lauren which fell to Patrick Vieira - but his resulting shot was blocked by Barry.

Ljungberg at full stretch then failed to make proper contact with a low centre from Henry and the ball flew out of play.

But after 56 minutes the Swede made no mistake after great play by Bergkamp instigated the decisive move.

He threaded his pass through to overlapping Gilberto, whose shot was parried away by Enckelman – but Ljungberg reacted the quickest to convert the rebound.

Villa were now at sixes and sevens and Enckelman had to beat away another powerful on-target effort from Ray Parlour.

Villa boss Graham Taylor opted for a double substitution with Marcus Allback and Rob Edwards replacing Gudjonsson and De la Cruz.

Stuart Taylor then earned his spurs to turn a piledriver from Thomas Hitzlsperger over the bar – but after 71 minutes Toule’s own goal brought Villa back on level terms.

Pascal Cygan failed to control a Hitzlsperger corner, Allback forced the ball goalwards and Toure sliced his clearance into his own net.