FT:A Villa 1-2 Arsenal: Arsenal survived a big scare today as Villa produced a superb second half display and will feel aggrieved that they did not take a point

Shaun Maloney ahs been good today and he chances his arm from range and tests Almunia once again with a decent half volley.

Arsenal have three more minutes to hold on as the board goes up for injury time.

Berger loves a strike with that left foot of his and he tries one from 25 yards here that skids quickly into the safe arms of Almunia.

Ashley Young drives at Sagna and wants a penalty but he has clearly dived unfortunately and is booked accordingly.

After a slightly scrappy few minutes Lassna Diarra, who has been almost anonymous in this second period, drives in a shot from range that rises over the bar.

Again the brilliant Young drives in field and chips a ball in towards the back post where Carew is waiting and he does a good job getting his head to it but from the angle it would have had to be something quite magnificent to beat Almunia.

The rain is driving down even harder now than it has all evening and you get the feeling it is going to mean someone will make a mistake in the closing stages. But who will it be and what will it mean?

Patrik Berger is coming on for a rare appearance as he replaces Bouma, which means even more attacking intent for the Villains.

Barry is back on and Arsenal are making a change as Gilberto Silva replaces Tomas Rosicky to sure up the midfield.

Gareth Barry is down after a foul, that is not given by the referee, by Rosicky in the midfield and noone seems to be happy as Eboue puts it out so he can receive treatment.

The chant is surely going to start soon of Ashley Young for England because the Villa winger is playing beautifully and everytime he gets it he looks for to attack his man and good delivery into the box is almost guaranteed.

It's all Villa right now as Carew flicks on Mellberg's throw and Agbonlahor and Maloney both come within inches of touching it home but Almunia gathers in the end.

Villa are pressing Arsenal much further up the pitch than in the opening period and that is paying dividends for them as they begin to cause havoc with the Gunners passing game.

Off the bar! Young puts in another superb cross and Carew rises brilliantly to head at goal but it strikes the underside of the bar and rolls away off Gallas' boot.

Bouma launches a long ball in behind Toure who just gets back in the nick of time to stop Maloney getting through one on one.

Theo Walcott is going to come on in place of the injured Hleb, which could mean a change of system for the Gunners.

Carew is booked for the challenge.

Hleb and Bouma are both down at the moment, after Hleb was caught by John Carew and took down Bouma as he fell.

Young's free kick is good again and Almunia only half clears with his fists, it keeps coming back and Carew, Laursen and Mellberg all have efforts blocked at point blank range.

Bacary Sagna chases towards his own goal with Young and brings down the Villa man in a dangerous position and gets a yellow card.

As in the first half Villa are enjoying the better of the early stages of this but they have failed to test Almunia and that could cost them dear later on.

Bouma has a savage left foot on him and he unleashes a shot here that Toure manages to block from all of 35 yards that could well have been threatening Almunia.

Villa have been bright enough in the opening minutes of this second period but they need to do a little bit more if they are going to break the Gunners down.

What promises to be an entertaining second half is underway and it will be interesting to see how Villa approach this now.

Lassana Diarra drills in another effort that Carson saves and that is the final action of an end-to-end first half. Arsenal have been superb but Villa started well and will be a threat again after the break.

Once again Arsenal manufacture a path through the Villa backline and Adebayor cuts it back from the byline and Flamini almost gets on the end of it.

Villa need to try and find a way back to the way they began the game because at the moment there is only one team that will win this game now.

Wilfred Bouma is booked now for a foul on Eboue who has been superb so far.

Arsenal have turned it around in style as Sagna gets all the way down the right wing and puts in a superb cross that Adebyor rises to meet and head past Carson.

Stiliyan Petrov has been forced off with an injury so Shaun Maloney replaces him, and his first action is to whip in a decent shot from the left that Almunia does well to save.

Adebayor chases back Agbonlahor who uses his pace well and the late challenge is given a yellow card.

Arsenal are well on top at the moment and after a few dodgy clearances Hleb finds Rosicky who curls and effort straight at Carson.

Both sides look so dangerous on the break and Arsenal almost get in again this time as Rosicky and Adebayor play soem wonderful one touch football and Knight does well to concede just a corner.

Ashley Young whips in a superb free kick that Almunia is forced to punch away but Gardner gives it away cheaply and but for a poor pass from Adebayor that could have been a dangerous break.

Arsenal are level! Eboue with brilliant work on the right wing and his cross is touched back by Rosicky for Flamini who rifles a half volley past Carson from the edge of the box.

They are really finding their passing rhythm as first Rosicky has a well struck shot blocked by Laursen and in the very next move Adebayor and Rosicky combine but the Togolese screws his shot wide.

As you would expect Arsenal have not been put out of their stride too much by that goal and another long sequence of passes ends with an Eboue cross that almost gives Rosicky a chance to head at goal.

Aston Villa lead! Carew with some superb play down the left puts in a low cross that deflects off Clichy and Gardner arrives to place the ball brilliantly past Almunia.

Laursen's long ball is flicked on by Carew and Almunia only clears as far as Gardner but the young midfielder lacks composure this time and lashes it wildly when he had plenty of time.

Brillaint counter attacking from the Gunners as Rosicky, Flamini and Adebayor combine to release Hleb in behind and only superb defending and goalkeeping from Bouma and Carson deny him.

Villa have finally managed to get a foot on the ball and keep possession and now Bouma tries to feed Agbonlahor down the left but Toure uses his strength to defend against his pace.

In saying that, Arsenal keep the ball for all of two minutes before Eboue fires in a decent effort from the right channel that forces a good diving save from Carson.

Villa are applying good pressure on the Arsenal players particularly on the midfield area and they will need to keep that up if they are going to stop them playing their usual brand of football.

Chris Foy is the referee tonight for a game that looks like it should be very entertaining between two teams full of pace and attacking talent.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Diarra, Flamini, Rosicky, Hleb, Adebayor

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Gardner, Petrov, Barry, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew

Arsene Wenger's team needed two late goals to overcome Wigan Athletic last weekend and suffered defeat in Sevilla in midweek but he welcomes back Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini, although Cesc Fabregas misses out through injury.

Martin O'Neill's side were superb in midweek as they rattled four past Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park and Gabriel Agbonlahor, who limped off in that game, is fit and does start.

Welcome to Villa Park as in-form Aston Villa welcome table-topping Arsenal to the second city.