Source: Daily_Mail
Aston Villa v Arsenal live
Arsene Wenger will be hoping to avoid a third consecutive defeat when his Arsenal side line up at Aston Villa in Saturday's 12.45pm kick-off in the Barclays Premier League. But Villa will be hoping to get back to winning ways themselves after losing at Blackburn last weekend and have former Gunners favourite Robert Pires in their Arsenal. Follow Sportsmail's live coverage of the game where you can email me all your thoughts on the action at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal (12.45pm)Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Ashley Young, Clark, Bannan (Herd 86), Downing, Pires (Delfouneso 46), Carew (Ireland 66).Subs: Guzan, Beye, Hogg, Lichaj.[LNB]Goals: Clark 52 71.[LNB]Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Rosicky (Djourou 90), Song, Wilshere, Nasri (Gibbs 85), Chamakh (Denilson 85), Arshavin.Subs: Szczesny, van Persie, Walcott, Bendtner.[LNB]Goals: Arshavin 39, Nasri 45, Chamakh 56, Wilshere 90.[LNB]Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)[LNB]14.45: So the Gunners go top of the table (maybe briefly) after a cracking game at Villa Park.[LNB]Paul Weller said it best when he said 'That's entertainment' as both sides truly gave it a go.[LNB]In truth though Villa were always chasing the game as early as the 20 second mark when Chamakh was put clean through on goal and as such Arsenal were full value for their win.[LNB]That is not all for Sportsmail's coverage though, click here to follow me cover this afternoon's 3pm kick-offs.[LNB]But that's all from me here thank you for following.[LNB]Full-time: Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal[LNB]90+4min: Final sub as Johan Djourou comes on for Rosicky.[LNB]90+3min: GOAL! Aston Villa 2-4 ARSENAL[LNB]Open the flood gates from the Villa fans. That keep-ball session results in Chamakh chipping the ball to the far post for Jack Wilshere to make it safe. [LNB]90+3min: Expert stuff from the visitors who have kept their heads and started a keep-ball session.[LNB]90+1min: Four minutes of injury time, no signs of any late danger thus far, Gunners looking fairly comfortable.[LNB]89min: All getting a bit scrappy now as Villa become desperate and Arsenal pull everyone back.[LNB]86min: Final change for Villa too, as Bannan is replaced by another youngster in Chris Herd.[LNB]85min: Wenger goes defensive as Nasri is replaced by full-back Kieran Gibbs with Arshavin going off for Denilson.[LNB]84min: Another Villa corner finds Richard Dunne in the box but his header is slightly weak as it Fabianski clutches the ball gratefully in the Arsenal goal. No Villa players around to get a vital touch.[LNB]82min: As it stands Villa are piling forward and Arsenal are happy to play on the counter and it's all compounded into a great game of football.[LNB]Big word for Stephen Ireland who has completely changed Villa's midfield by actually providing an attacking outlet.[LNB]79min: Wenger looks slightly worried on the bench, I know I'm getting greedy but I still feel there is another goal in this.[LNB]77min: Free-kick to Villa on the halfway line after Chamakh is booked for a clumsy challenge, everyone piles forward but it's a routine catch for Fabiasnki.[LNB]75min: What a game we have on our hands now, Arsenal have responded well though and resorted to that told cliche, attack is the best form of defence.[LNB] Head boy: Clark for the second time pulled a goal back for Villa[LNB]71min: GOAL! ASTON VILLA 2-3 Arsenal[LNB]Game on! The corner in the box is headed goalwards by Richard Dunne but slightly lacking power, no matter though as Ciaran Clark is on hand to header the ball over the line...only just mind as Bacary Sagna attempts to clear it.[LNB]A goal is given though and replays prove the goal is right to stand and with just two shots on target Villa are back in it.[LNB]70min: More mischief from Ireland as his cross in the box is desperately headed behind by Koscielny for a corner.[LNB]68min: That sub has worked magic. Ireland has created a couple of opportunities already with the best falling for Downing 10 yards out who fires a shot wide. Really has to hit the target from there.[LNB]66min: Such is the dominance of the visitors, Houllier is forced into another change. Stephen Ireland comes on for the disappointing Carew.[LNB]64min: How goals change games. Ever since Arsenal got that third the stuffing has been completely knocked out of Villa and the pattern of play has resorted to how it was for much of the first-half. Arsenal well on top.[LNB]62min: Seems like normal service resumed. Nasri escapes down the right and his cross into the box is volleyed by Arshavin but it flies miles over.[LNB]61min: It's evened out a lot since that goal and that early Villa pressure has subsided, there seems to be more goals in this one though.[LNB]59min: Nearly four too. Wilshere runs free down the left and his low ball across the six yard box is just plucked out by Friedel just before a waiting Chamakh can get a killer touch.[LNB] Sit back and relax: Chamakh celebrates restoring Arsenal's two goal lead[LNB]56min: GOAL! Aston Villa 1-3 ARSENAL[LNB]What a response though and relief all round the visiting Arsenal fans. Rosicky threads Marouane Chamakh through in the box who stabs the ball under Friedel.[LNB]53min: Claims that it could have been offside though. Carew is standing in front of Fabianksi and in an offside position.[LNB]Those water bottles are still intact in the Arsenal dugout but they won't be if Wenger sees a replay of that. Hero Clark is booked for a pretty heft two-footed lunge.[LNB]52min: GOAL! ASTON VILLA 1-2 Arsenal[LNB]Would you believe it, but what a strike this is! Arsenal clear a cross only as far as Ciaran Clark on the edge of the box who chests it down and unleashes a thunderbolt in to the far top corner. Game on![LNB]50min: They are looking much better Villa, they are pressing Arsenal a lot more and are starting to put together a few neat passing moves. No real attempts on target but they are the better side so far in this half.[LNB]48min: Well they have more of the ball anyway but no dynamite like effects yet from the home side.[LNB]Second-half: Houllier has gone with the 'Redknapp sub' by bringing on Nathan Delfouneso for Pires as Villa get us going again.[LNB]13.42: I don't know if it just me but 2-0 shorelines jut seem to get more dangerous with every passing season.[LNB]How many times to do we see a side get one back and take control of the game. Villa must keep hope because right now that is all they have.[LNB]Arsenal just need to keep their heads and they will go to the Premier League summit.[LNB]13.38: That was pretty awful from Villa, Pires faded away badly as the game wore on and the home side were heavily booed off at the half-time whistle. They can't get any worse really.[LNB]13.35: Two minutes of stoppage time come to an end and a late flurry from Arsenal see them in total control of this game.[LNB]Mind you we were saying that against Spurs last week and the last time Villa beat Arsenal at Villa Park they were 2-0 down at half-time. Surely not.[LNB]Half-time: Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal[LNB] All smiles: Nasri celebrates doubling Arsenal's lead [LNB]45min: GOAL! Aston Villa 0-2 ARSENAL[LNB]They finally score from one of those many corners. Arshavin's ball in is knocked on to Samir Nasri 16 yards out and his well executed volley takes a slight deflection to help it in the bottom corner. The scoreline is a good reflection on how this game has gone.[LNB]44min: What a save! Nasri sends in a cross from the right and six yards out Chamakh meets it with a powerful header that Friedel shows great reflexes to tip past the post for a corner.[LNB]40min: Almost in the blink of an eye it should be two! Nasri breaks clear of the Villa defence and after going past Friedel runs out of angle and scuffs his shot wide with Collins covering on the line.[LNB]Finally: Andrey Arshavin put the Gunners in front[LNB]39min: GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 ARSENAL[LNB]I said it was coming but this is Villa's own fault, James Collins and Clark go for the same ball, miss it and it sets off Andrey Arshavin away down the left.[LNB]He is given space to cut inside and fire the ball with his right foot across Friedel in the penalty area who can only help it nestling in the bottom corner.[LNB]37min: Much, much better from Villa. Bannan picks out Warnock storming down the left flank and his dangerous ball in the box has to be urgently cleared by Koscielny, their best move and it says a lot for how much they have been outplayed.[LNB]35min: Again Villa header it away but it's only a matter of time before it comes back...[LNB]34min: Even the Villa fans are getting frustrated, their side just cannot keep the ball in midfield. Here is Arsenal's sixth corner.[LNB]32min: The man who I feel sorry for? Lukasz Fabianski. The man has had nothing to do and he must be a little bit chilly standing in goal twiddling his thumbs.[LNB]30min: Credit to Villa's defence, Friedel has not had many saves to make but they keep lumping the ball upfield to the Arsenal back four only for it to come straight back at them.[LNB]28min: Arsenal back on the ascendancy as they win yet another corner after Warnock acrobatically blocks a cross out.[LNB]25min: First real moment for Villa. Downing cuts inside on the right to send the ball in with his left-foot with Clark knocking the ball on to Young at the far post who clumsily bundles over the bar.[LNB]He perhaps should do better and looks offside when Clark nods it on.[LNB]23min: Another Arsenal corner. Arshavin trudges over to take it going short to Rosicky before the ball is squared to Nasri again outside the box who sees his shot blocked. I tell you it's coming.[LNB]21min: I'm scratching my head here wondering how Arsenal are not in front, they are dominating this game and you feel a goal is going to come sooner or later. Villa haven't had a shot.[LNB]18min: From the corner, Villa clear but in what is the story of the game only to an Arsenal player.[LNB]Nasri 20 yards out, drops his shoulder to beat a defender but again drags his shot wide, there is a goal coming in this one and you don't need any hints as to who is looking most likely to get it.[LNB] Welcome back: Robert Pires (left) is tackled by Alex Song[LNB]17min: Gunners have knocked it up a gear and the hosts are under pressure again. Only a James Collins block denies Andrey Arshavin and the away side have a corner.[LNB]16min: Nasri looks fine now anyway, looks like he has run off that pre-game problem.[LNB]14min: Good work from Rosicky he reads a Chamakh header that is knocked in the box but under pressure he can only fire a shot low and near Freidel.[LNB]13min: He is back on now with a new shirt, name and number free.[LNB]11min: Some Villa possession just to get them in the game more than anything. [LNB]Laurent Koscielny has to go off for a moment as he has been caught by John Carew's arm and his nose is bleeding.[LNB]An innocent enough looking challenge for a header though.[LNB]9min: It could not last forever, Villa have at least eased the pressure by forcing Arsenal back if not having much of the ball still.[LNB]Pires has had a couple of crunching challenges on him already, it's not La Liga anymore sunshine.[LNB] Happy families: Robert Pires shares a joke with former boss Arsene Wenger before kick-off[LNB]6min: Chamakh has another opportunity just outside the box but his strike drags wide of the post.[LNB]5min: I take that all back regarding Arsenal not being up for it. They are winning all the loose balls making a number of tackles and just making Villa look like amateurs.[LNB]4min: Another chance! It all starts when Pires gives the ball away to Alex Song but a patient move ends with Jack Wilshere finding an unmarked Rosicky in the box who fires just wide across Friedel's goal.[LNB]3min: All the visitors so far, villa can hardly get a touch on the ball.[LNB]1min: Arsenal are nearly in front already. Awful mistake from Stephen Warnock in given the ball away square to Rosicky and he threads through Marouane Chamakh who is fumbled by a very alert Brad Friedel. That all inside 20 seconds.[LNB]Kick-off: Arsenal kick us-off but I'm keeping my eye on Samir Nasri, he looked to be struggling before ball had been kicked.[LNB]12.44: Pires greets some familiar friends in the Arsenal side before both sides emerge from the tunnel. He has a spring in his step, could he really follow in William Gallas in returning to haunt his former side?[LNB]12.43: Both sides in the tunnel. Long sleeves all round for the Gunners and some and a few body-warmers and gloves.[LNB]Are they up for a cold day in the Midlands?[LNB]12.40: Filling up nicely at Villa Park where as you could probably guess it's very cold. The fans look freezing in the crowd with their many, many layers.[LNB]12.37: 'He has seemed to settle very well with the squad and his style of play will fit very well of the team'[LNB]Gerard Houllier would say that I suppose about Pires but there must be another reason why Houllier has picked him in addition to the fact he is playing against his former club...surely.[LNB]12.34: Wow, so many stats today. Just looking at Arsenal's away form, no side has won more games on the road this season, with the Gunners already winning four times.[LNB]12.31: Not as many youngsters that we have become accustomed to in the Villa side. Just Barry Bannan and Ciaran Clark start the game from the recent clutch of kids at the Villa academy. Even so click here to read this piece from Michael Walker about those pesky kids and the youth system they have come from.[LNB]12.28: Villa fans will remember that Spurs defeat as it seemed to coincide with their end of season slide to sixth place having looked good for a Champions League spot for quite some time that campaign.[LNB]12.25: To balance out that stat regarding Villa's last win at home against Arsenal, our friends at InfoStradaLive inform us that Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League home matches against London opposition, since a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in March 2009.[LNB]12.22: Honestly I was not expecting that. Having watched Pires' debut against Blackburn there were no real flashes of brilliance to suggest he would be straight the side today, although I do recall him going close with a header but that was pretty much it.[LNB]12.19: Robert Pires is handed his first Aston Villa start by manager Gerard Houllier against his former club..[LNB]The 37-year-old scored 84 goals in 284 appearances during a six-year spell with the Gunners.[LNB]Houllier makes three changes from the side beaten 2-0 at Blackburn last weekend.[LNB]Pires, James Collins and John Carew replaces Stephen Ireland, Jonathan Hogg and the ill Gabriel Agbonlahor.[LNB]Tomas Rosicky takes over as Arsenal skipper in place of hamstring victim Cesc Fabregas while Emmanuel Eboue is also sidelined with a knee problem. Villa are searching for their first home league win over Arsenal since 1998.[LNB]12.17: How they lineup at Villa Park:[LNB]Aston Villa v ArsenalAston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Ashley Young, Clark, Bannan, Downing, Pires, Carew. Subs: Guzan, Ireland, Delfouneso, Beye, Hogg, Lichaj, Herd.Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Rosicky, Song, Wilshere, Nasri, Chamakh, Arshavin. Subs: Szczesny, van Persie, Walcott, Denilson, Djourou, Gibbs, Bendtner.Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)[LNB]12.15: For all the apparent disarray at Arsenal after two consecutive defeats it's easy to overlook that the Gunners are sitting pretty in all competitions.The Carling Cup and the Champions League is a topic for another day but this afternoon is all about the Premier League and just like last weekend Arsene Wenger's side can go top with a win (albeit maybe for just over a couple of hours.) So much for a team losing their way.Aston Villa meanwhile are struggling to pick up wins but at Villa Park are a formidable opponent remaining one of three teams unbeaten at home this season. And what about that Robert Pires factor...team news on the way.[LNB] Familiar face: Robert Pires is likely to play a part against his former side[LNB] As Pires faces Arsenal, here's five great goals from his time with GunnersWenger issues warning over Fabregas as boss fears skipper has crackedALL ASTON VILLA FC
