Arsenal overcome early setback

Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 1

No wonder the French expect such high standards of Thierry Henry and Robert Pires. And no wonder they have recently been left so frustrated.

For Arsenal’s French duo were at their inspirational best against Aston Villa, refusing to allow even a sensational display by Aston Villa stand-in keeper Stefan Postma to interrupt their flow.

Postma’s superb saves were well into double figures by the end of a breathtaking game, but he still managed only to prevent a rout by an Arsenal side who would have destroyed almost any team on this form.

Henry may have been criticised by those compatriots who are frustrated at his inability to repeat his superb club displays for his country.

However, he scored his first international goal for four months in the midweek win against Cyprus and was, just like Pires, Jose Reyes and Cesc Fabregas, at his brilliant best against Villa.

Lee Hendrie may have handed Villa a shock third-minute lead but, as Middlesbrough have previously found out this season, taking the lead is merely a red rag to a bull at Highbury.

Arsenal stormed back into the game and Postma could not hold back the attacking tide on his own.

Henry’s burst won a penalty on 19 minutes and Pires – himself criticised for his international displays and controversially substituted at half-time when on midweek France duty – equalised from the spot.

Henry then put Arsenal ahead in first-half injury-time before Pires confirmed victory with 18 minutes left.

And so Arsenal completed the best nine-game start in Premiership history, with 25 points and 29 goals to their name already.

Indeed, only Manchester United now bar their path to an incredible 50-match unbeaten league run, even if there was the worrying sign of an injury to captain Patrick Vieira.

While Sol Campbell had headed ominously against the bar after just a minute, Arsenal were still rocked on their heels when Hendrie handed Villa the lead.

The Arsenal defence were rooted to the spot as Carlton Cole’s pass found Hendrie, who was given far too much time and space to cut inside and rifle a left-footed shot into the far corner.

While Dennis Bergkamp appealed in vain for a foul in the build-up, Peter Whittingham, an early replacement for the injured Gareth Barry, almost doubled Villa’s lead as he shot just wide.

Otherwise, however, it was a case of how many shots it would take before Postma’s incredible luck and truly superb reflexes ran out.

The Villa goalkeeper denied both Patrick Vieira and Ashley Cole with his outstretched leg, while Reyes also came close.

However, Mark Delaney was then lured into a reckless tackle on Henry as the Frenchman charged to the byline and Pires converted the ensuing penalty.

An unseemly scuffle between Reyes and Hendrie did not detract from the overall spectacle, with the game being played at a breathless pace.

And for of all Villa’s commendable adventure, they were simply swallowed up by Arsenal’s incredible attacking machine, which hurts sides from all angles.

While Bergkamp was denied by a last-gasp tackle from Jlloyd Samuel and an excellent save by Postma, who also foiled Reyes and Henry, the inevitable then happened.

With just seconds of the first-half left, Reyes broke free to feed Henry and he galloped clear before finishing with aplomb.

Arsenal remained a class apart going forward after the restart, even if Postma continued to defy belief with his saves.

Henry, who had scored with a back-heel against Charlton a fortnight ago, sent Reyes haring through with a similarly inspired flick, only for Postma to parry the Spaniard’s ensuing shot.

The Villa goalkeeper then somehow cleared Pires’ shot, while he also produced superb stops from Henry and Reyes.

David O’Leary made his final throw of the dice, with Cole being replaced by Angel, with 32 minutes left.

Still Arsenal dominated, but they had to do so without captain Vieira, who was taken off following an ugly foul by Samuel. No matter, at least for now.

His replacement, Mathieu Flamini, was immediately involved in the thick of the action, crossing for Henry to set up Pires, who swept his shot past Postma.

Although it was 3-1, it could – without Postma – easily have been 6-1. France, however, can for now only dream of a similar outcome