STALEMATE AT VILLA PARK

Benteke and Arteta going for the ball

ARSENAL was not quite up to the mark against Aston Villa at Villa Park last night. Things doesn't seem to go their way and with the slippery pitch - did not help either for Arsene Wenger side. Wenger made three changes to the line-up by resting skipper Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna and Jack Wilshire with Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson and Aaron Ramsey in their respective position.

Aston Villa's young guns did a very good job in halting the visitor from playing their usual game. Villa's boss, Paul Lambert really did his homework after not getting a single point against the two Manchester Clubs in their previous match. But this time around they did. Their approach tight and compact and launch quick counter attack did quite cause a lot of damage to the Arsenal back four which saw a below par performance by Arsenal in the first half.

The home side look at ease whenever going for attack whereas Arsenal struggle in stringing and getting their passes together and lost quite a lot of possession in the middle and saw them back pedalling.

Carl Jenkinson, Pete Metersacker, Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs face a torrid time with fast and hard running of Agbonlahor, Benteke, Weiman, Bannan and Westwood.

The Gunners started to come alive only in the later stages which is quite obvious the home side working very hard defending superbly in denying the visitor any chances. The home side great chance through Weiman superb strike which was pushed away by Wojciech Szceszny hitting the bar and went over. 

Arsenal face another stiff opposition on Tuesday against Everton at Goodison Park.