Barclays Premier League

FT: ASTON VILLA 0 ARSENAL 0

Villa haul themselves out of the relegation zone after taking a well-deserved point from a lacklustre Arsenal side. The home side could even have snatched victory in the closing stages had Wojciech Szczesny not made a magnificent save to tip Brett Holman's long-range drive on to the crossbar. It was a game played in atrocious conditions that lacked real quality. Villa's marvellous work-rate, however, will have impressed manager Paul Lambert, who was forced to watch from the stands as he served a one-match touchline ban. His counterpart, Arsene Wenger, cut a frustrated figure for most of the match. Arsenal were some way off their fluent best, and this was a third unconvincing away performance in a row. The Gunners, though, might still have claimed victory had Laurent Koscielny in the first half and Aaron Ramsey in the second managed to hit the target with the goal at their mercy.

STOPPAGE TIME

There will be three minutes of added time.

VILLA SUBSTITUTION

Villa make their final change, with Marc Albrighton coming on to replace Andreas Weimann.

CLARK TO THE RESCUE

Ciaran Clark just manages to get his studs on the end of an incisive ball forward from Arshavin, otherwise Gervinho would have had a tap-in.

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION

Giroud is just unable to get on the end of pull-back from the left by Gibbs. Arsenal make their final change, with Coquelin replacing Giroud.

OFF THE CROSSBAR

Westwood finds Holman in space just in front of the Arsenal backline and the Australian lets fire with a fabulous strike that draws an equally good save from Szczesny, who tips the ball on to the top of the crossbar.

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION

Here comes another Arsenal change. Andrey Arshavin takes the place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

GIROUD NEEDS TREATMENT

Giroud is down for Arsenal with an injury to his left ankle.

RAMSEY NOT FAR AWAY

Ramsey's snap-shot from 25 yards does not miss the left-hand post by much, though Guzan will say he would have had it covered.

IN DEFENCE OF JENKINSON

Benteke beats the offside trap down the right and would have created a glorious chance for Weimann had the alert Jenkinson not made a priceless interception for the visitors.

INTERVAL TRAINING

No fewer than 17 of the 22 goals Villa have conceded have come in the second half. They have looked pretty solid today, however.

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION

Lukas Podolski is replaced by Gervinho. It doesn't come as a surprise - the German is the only player in the Premier League to be substituted in all of his side's matches this season.

AGBONLAHOR DENIED

Weimann carries the ball to the edge of the Arsenal area before feeding Agbonlahor to his left. The angled drive is powerfully struck, but straight at Szczesny.

YOU WIN NOTHING WITH KIDS

Incredibly, at 28, Brett Holman is the oldest Villa player on the pitch at present.

BAD MISS BY RAMSEY

Arsenal create a chance from a corner on the left. Giroud flicks the ball on at the near post and the unmarked Ramsey arrives late at the back stick but spoons his effort over the bar.

CHANGE IN THE OFFING

Brett Holman, named the Australian player of the year this week, is about to replace El Ahmadi.

HEADER BLOCKED

Benteke again rises highest to meet a left-wing corner from Bannan. His header hits the back of Mertesacker and deflects out for another corner.

NO SHORTAGE OF SPIRIT

However this match pans out, you can't help but be impressed with Villa's work-rate. Every player has worked tirelessly today to close down their Arsenal counterpart. Benteke's shot is deflected over the bar in the meantime.

TRIVIA ANSWER

Earlier we asked you who scored twice for Villa the last time they beat Arsenal at Villa Park. The answer? Dion Dublin.

RAMSEY MISSES THE TARGET

Oxlade-Chamberlain gets the better of Clark down the Arsenal right and his low cross is scooped wide of the near post by Ramsey.

VLAAR'S CALF INJURY

Villa say Ron Vlaar's problem is with his calf and the Dutchman has gone straight to the changing room for treatment.

PRETTY TO WATCH

Arsenal just strung together the most delightful passing move to carry the ball from the edge of their own area to deep inside the Villa half. It's such a shame it came to an end with Giroud giving away possession cheaply.

VILLA SUBSTITUTION

Eric Lichaj is on to replace Ron Vlaar, who must have an injury.

TRIVIA TIME

Julian Joachim was one of the Villa scorers the last time they beat Arsenal at home in December 1998, but which player scored the other two? Answer in a few minutes.

GUNNERS THREATEN

Arsenal launch a quick break down the right through Oxlade-Chamberlain. Cazorla exchanges passes with Giroud on the edge of the Villa area before shooting just wide of the left-hand upright. That's better from the Gunners.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Villa get the second half under way.

HT: ASTON VILLA 0 ARSENAL 0

It's goalless at the end of what has been a scrappy, disjointed, disappointing first half. We've seen too many balls given away and precious little attacking play. Villa's best chance fell to Christian Benteke, but he headed wide, while Andreas Weimann also had a goal chalked off for offside. Arsenal have been below par going forward, their best opening of note falling to the unmarked Laurent Koscielny, who hooked a shot over from ten yards just before the break. Aaron Ramsey's low shot also produced a routine save from Brad Guzan.

GREAT CHANCE WASTED

Giroud makes inroads down the left and when Clark slips Koscielny is gifted a glorious chance. The Frenchman lifts the ball over the bar from eight yards.

STRONG STARTERS

If the Premier League table was calculated on first-half performances alone, Villa would be fifth. They've been at least Arsenal's equals so far today.

GOAL DISALLOWED

Andreas Wiemann has the ball in the net after Ciaran Clark has an initial shot blocked from a free-kick, but the flag is rightly up for offside.

DIFFICULT CONDITIONS

Szczesny catches the ball inside his area, but as he goes to ground he aquaplanes outside the box and is rightly penalised for handball. Referee Lee Mason shows common sense and does not produce a yellow card.

GROUND TO MAKE UP

Even after their win over Spurs last weekend, Arsenal have their lowest number of points after 12 games under Arsene Wenger than in any previous season.

GOOD SAVE FROM GUZAN

Finally we have our first shot on target. Oxlade-Chamberlain starts the move on the left which ends with Ramsey getting a low shot that is blocked by Guzan.

MERTESACKER INJURY

Mertesacker is currently down with an injury to his left shoulder. The German is able to continue after treatment.

VITAL CHALLENGE

Arsenal have their first sniff of a chance. Giroud manages to slip the ball inside to Podolski, but just as the German is about to pull the trigger Clark makes an important tackle.

DISMAL YEAR

Villa have managed just 24 points from their 31 games in this calendar year, the lowest return in the Premier League.

VILLA BOOKING

El Ahmadi is booked for simulation. He was trying to win a free-kick and replays show what a pathetic dive it actually was.

OX SHOOTS WIDE

Oxlade-Chamberlain cuts in from the right, but fires disappointingly into the side-netting from an admittedly narrow angle.

SUPPORT FOR STILIYAN

It's Stiliyan time. With 19 minutes gone Villa fans, as they always do, break into applause for Stiliyan Petrov to show support for their captain as he continues his recovery from cancer.

BENTEKE HEADS WIDE

Benteke rises at the far post to meet a right-wing corner from Westwood, but he heads well wide of the target.

GROWING IN CONFIDENCE

A poor headed clearance from Jenkinson gives Benteke a half-chance, but the Belgian fails to make decent contact with his volley. Bannan then tries an ambitious attempt from 30 yards that Szczesny catches comfortably.

TAKING NO CHANCES

Gibbs gives the ball away, which eventually leads to Weimann receiving the ball out on the left. The Austrian fizzes over a cross which Szczesny decides to punch out for a corner rather than risk handling, probably sensible thinking with the monsoon-like conditions.

FREE-KICK WASTED

Ramsey concedes a free-kick on the Arsenal left. It's a promising position for the home side, but Bannan's delivery sails over the head of Vlaar.

BENT NOT EVEN ON THE BENCH

Darren Bent was declared fit by Paul Lambert yesterday, but the former Sunderland striker is not even on the bench.

KOSCIELNY GETS HIS REVENGE

Koscielny came up a little gimpy having been caught by a slightly late tackle by Agbonlahor. The Frenchman will be able to run it off, that's for sure. He gets his revenge with a crunching – but fair – tackle on the Villa man.

EARLY PRESSURE

Giroud wins Arsenal their first corner of the match. Cazorla produces a decent delivery from the left, but Koscielny fails to make contact. Perhaps he lost it in the rain.

GIBBS IN THE THICK OF IT

Arsenal are quickly into their stride and the suggestion is that left-back Kieran Gibbs has been told to get forward at every opportunity.

WEATHER REPORT

It's a foul night in the West Midlands. It has been bucketing down since lunchtime and the forecast suggests it will continue to do so for the whole of this evening's match.

HERE WE GO

Arsenal kick off, attacking the goal to our left.

STARTING LINE-UPS

Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Dunne, Stephens, Westwood, El Ahmadi, Bannan, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Benteke. Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Podolski, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud.

TEAM NEWS

Villa make one change to the side thrashed at Manchester City last weekend, with Karim El Ahmadi coming in for Stephen Ireland. With a match against Everton upcoming, Arsenal rest both full-backs, Thomas Vermaelen and Bacary Sagna, with Carl Jenkinson being recalled and Kieran Gibbs returning after injury. Aaron Ramsey replaces Jack Wilshere in midfield and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain comes in for the injured Theo Walcott.

PREVIEW

Arsenal would appear to be back on track after an inconsistent start to the season, but it would only take a slip-up at struggling Aston Villa in Saturday's late kick-off in the Premier League for the gloom to descend again over the Emirates. Arsene Wenger's men have enjoyed a good week, seeing off North London rivals Spurs in emphatic fashion last Saturday and following it up with a home victory over Montpellier in midweek which secured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Villa, by contrast, dropped into the relegation zone for the first time since the opening week of the season after being mauled 5-0 at champions Manchester City. While on the face of it this looks like a sure-fire away win given their current form, last weekend's results were a little misleading. Spurs were giving Arsenal all they could handle until Emmanuel Adebayor foolishly got himself sent off, which turned the course of the game, while Villa can look back at the ridiculous handball decision against Andreas Weimann given by a linesman at the Etihad which cost them a penalty and played a big part in their demise. Paul Lambert's comments in the post-match press conference led to him being given an £8,000 fine and a one-match touchline ban, which means he will watch today's game from the stands. Villa were wronged, certainly, but having battled so doggedly it will be a cause for concern to their fans how readily the Midlanders capitulated after things turned against them. If they get something from today it will be a bonus, but Paul Lambert must be targeting Villa's next three matches after this one, with home games against Reading and Stoke to come and a trip to bottom side Queens Park Rangers. Having said that, Villa were more than a match for Manchester United for an hour a fortnight ago and Arsenal should beware. Today's game kicks off at 1730GMT, so join us around 30 minutes beforehand when we should have the confirmed team news, which will be followed by a match commentary.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Villa are more a sum of their parts rather than a team of individual talent, but Christian Benteke has still managed to catch the eye in recent weeks. The Belgian can be a real handful on his day and had been keeping Darren Bent out of the starting line-up because of his better all-round game even before the England man's injury. Bent is now fit again after injury, so who will get the nod up front? Not two weeks ago Arsene Wenger admitted that Lukas Podolski was struggling to come to terms with the Premier League, but backed his £10.9 million signing from Cologne to come good. The Germany midfielder has netted in all three games since and capped a fine individual display against Montpellier with a cracking volley.

HEAD TO HEAD

Arsenal have the better head-to-head record in league meetings between the sides with 68 wins to 60 by Villa and 38 games being drawn. At Villa Park, Villa have 38 wins to 24 by Arsenal, with a further 21 meetings ending up all square. Arsenal won the corresponding match last year on Dec. 21 2-1. Robin van Persie gave Arsenal the lead through a 17th-minute penalty, Mark Albrighton levelled early in the second half only for Yossi Benayoun to snatch victory for the visitors with a goal three minutes from time. Villa had Alan Hutton sent off in the closing stages. Arsenal then proceeded to dispatch the Midlanders from the FA Cup, which had looked unlikely at half-time of their fourth-round tie with Villa leading 2-0 with goals from Richard Dunne (33 mins) and Darren Bent (45). But again Van Persie was on the mark from the spot, converting penalties on 54 and 61 minutes, either side of a strike from Theo Walcott during a seven-minute purple patch which saw the home side net three times to turn the game on its head. Arsenal completed the league double in much more comfortable fashion with a 3-0 win on Mar. 24, Kieran Gibbs (16), Walcott (25) and Mikel Arteta (90) getting the goals. Villa have actually done better away from home against Arsenal in recent years, winning twice in their last four trips to the Gunners. At Villa Park, they have failed to win any of the last 13 meetings, drawing six times and losing the other seven, their last victory coming on Dec.13 1998. We won't give the game away as to the scorers that day, as we will be posing that as one of the trivia questions during our in-game commentary.

FORM GUIDE

Villa started the day in 18th, with nine points from 12 games. Arsenal were in sixth spot, with 19 points from their games. Villa's only win at home in the league this season came against Swansea back in September. They have lost their last two games to the two Manchester clubs. Arsenal gained a morale-boosting 5-2 win over Spurs last Saturday, but they have lost their last two matches away from home at Norwich and, most recently, at Manchester United.

EARLY TEAM NEWS

Villa boss Paul Lambert has a bit of a selection dilemma, because England striker Darren Bent is fit again after missing three games with an ankle injury. Expect Christian Benteke to keep his place and for Bent to start on the bench. Eric Lichaj is also available after a leg injury, but Joe Bennett, Chris Herd, Charles N'Zogbia (all knee) and Richard Dunne (groin) are still out. Theo Walcott is again ruled out for Arsenal with a shoulder problem and Andre Santos (stomach muscle) is also unavailable, joining longer-term absentees Abou Diaby (thigh) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) on the sidelines. Gervinho and Kieran Gibbs are both fit again after injury.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Taking charge of today's game is Lee Mason, who has been a member of the elite panel of Premier League referees since 2006. The man from Lancashire has yet to show a red card in seven Premier League outings this season and has produced just 24 yellow cards. Since giving Everton's Mikel Arteta and West Brom's Youssouf Mulumbu their marching orders at Goodison Park back in November 2010, he has produced just one red card in 47 Premier League games, that going to QPR midfielder Shaun Derry at Old Trafford in April. Mason's assistants today are Mick McDonough and Peter Bankes, while Phil Dowd is the fourth official.