Full Time: ASTON VILLA 2-2 ARSENAL. A thrilling end to the Boxing Day fixtures as Arsenal let another lead slip in stoppage time. The result means Villa and Arsenal remain in the same positions, fourth and fifth respectively.
90
Yellow Card
Barry picks up a late booking for Villa
90
Arsene Wenger is livid on the touchline and it is not the first time that his side have conceded leads in stoppage time this season.
90
Goal
ASTON VILLA 2-2 ARSENAL: Barry goes up for a header and the ball drops to ZAT KNIGHT in the box and he smashes the ball past Almunia and into the back of the net.
90
There will be four minutes of added time at Villa Park.
88
Barry loops a set piece into the danger area and Knight cushions a header down inside the box but it falls to Toure rather than a team-mate and the Arsenal defender hacks the ball clear.
87
It looks set to be a shaky final few minutes for the visitors as Villa are throwing everything forward at every opportunity.
85
Clichy picks up the ball on the halfway line and has space to run into but as he reaches the box he does not have a team-mate in support and Villa snuff out the attack.
83
Petrov takes on Denilson before striking a shot at goal but a yellow shirt gets in the way and deflects the ball away from danger.
82
Substitution
Wenger makes a defensive substitution as Nasri makes way for Gael Clichy.
81
Yellow Card
Petrov goes into the book for showing dissent.
79
Kolo Toure fails to deal with a Villa cross properly and finds Luke Young on the edge of the box but his delivery is poor and Arsenal pick up the ball.
76
Yellow Card
Reo-Coker is also cautioned by the referee.
76
Yellow Card
Van Persie and Reo-Coker come together and exchange words and the referee pulls out the yellow card for the Arsenal striker.
74
A Young cross misses everyone in the box and bounces through to Milner whose shot from the corner of the box is blocked by a yellow shirt.
72
Yellow Card
The referee pulls play back and shows Agbonlahor a yellow card for attempting to bring down Diaby in the build up to the previous attack.
71
Arsenal go forward on the break and Ramsay picks up the ball on the edge of the box but it gets caught under his feet and he fails to get a shot away.
68
Wenger is apparently unhappy with the penalty decision but replays show that it was a correct decision from the officials.
67
Play stops for a few moments. The referee is called to the touchline to sort out a conflict between the two managers Arsene Wenger and Martin O'Neill.
66
That is Barry's 50th Villa goal and it comes on the day he is restored as captain.
65
Goal
ASTON VILLA 1-2 ARSENAL: GARETH BARRY makes no mistake from the spot as he smashes the ball into the top left corner.
64
Agbonlahor is brought down in the box by Gallas and Lee Mason points to the spot.
63
Agbonlahor gets a shot away but it is blocked by an Arsenal defender.
62
A Sidwell run is not picked up by the Arsenal defence and he reaches the byline before cutting the ball back to Young in a great position, but Sagna puts in a vital interception.
60
Confidence is flowing through the Arsenal ranks at the moment and they are playing some exceptional football.
58
Villa work the ball on the corner of the box but cannot find a hole in the Arsenal defence and eventually the visitors regain possession.
56
Ramsey chips a cross over the Villa defence and plants the ball on the head of van Persie who directs the ball well wide of the target.
54
Lovely football from Arsenal and Denilson's scuffed effort falls to van Persie who rattles the post from 12-yards out.
52
Villa will not give up this game just yet and Agbonlahor goes in search of a goal but the attack is snuffed out at the byline by Kolo Toure.
50
A fantastic start to the second-half for Arsenal who have only had two shots at goal in this game!
49
Yellow Card
Diaby is shown a yellow card by Lee Mason for celebrating with the Arsenal fans.
48
Goal
ASTON VILLA 0-2 ARSENAL: Eboue runs at the Villa defence and delays his pass. He finally plays through ABOU DIABY who coolly fires the ball home from 12-yards.
Second half
The second-half gets underway and both sides remain unchanged.
Half time
Half Time - ASTON VILLA 0-1 ARSENAL. The hosts will be wondering how they have managed to go in behind at the interval after hitting the woodwork three times and having an opportunity cleared off the line.
43
Substitution
Arsene Wenger is forced to make an early change with an injury to Alex Song. Aaron Ramsey takes his place.
42
Reo-Coker puts a high cross into the box. Agbonlahor sends a looping header goal-wards with Almunia committed to the ball but Sagna clears the ball off the line with an acrobatic bicycle kick.
39
Goal
ASTON VILLA 0-1 ARSENAL: Nigel Reo-Coker in possession and DENILSON bursts into the box before sliding a shot underneath a helpless Brad Friedel.
37
Curtis Davies hits an effort goal-wards and holds his head in his hands as it comes back off the crossbar.
36
Yellow Card
Kolo Toure is cautioned for a badly timed tackle on Agbonlahor.
35
Another let off for Arsenal as the home side rattle the woodwork for the second time.
34
Young sends an inviting ball to the far post and finds Milner. His first time effort is turned onto the post by Alumnia before the ball bounces back into the arms of the grateful goalkeeper.
30
Agbonlahor gets behind the Arsenal defence and is one-on-one with Almunia before being pulled back for offside. A close call from the linesman.
28
The tempo has slowed down since the opening quarter of an hour but the hosts still look the most likely to open the scoring.
25
Young swings another corner into the mixer and Almunia does well to punch the ball away
24
Yellow Card
Alex Song picks up the first booking of the game after a rash challenge on Stiliyan Petrov. The defender will now miss the FA Cup tie against Plymouth in January.
22
The visitors look frustrated and are becoming slightly sloppy as an attacking move comes to an end with Emmanuel Eboue giving the ball away cheaply.
20
Gabriel Agbonlahor gets a shot away from inside the box and Alumnia's save falls into the feet of Sidwell whose shot is deflected wide by an Arsenal defender.
17
The resulting corner is cleared by Song but Arsenal look rattled.
15
An Aston Villa set piece is cleared only as far as Luke Young who strikes a shot goal-wards. It takes a wicked deflection and Almunia pulls off a fine save to tip the ball over the bar.
13
The visitors break now though and van Persie gets into the box but Zat Knight puts in a long leg to boot the ball to safety.
12
Villa are on the front foot at the moment and are taking the game to Arsenal who cannot seem to get out of their own half.
10
The ball comes back out to Young and he finds Curtis Davies open on the edge of the six-yard box but he makes a mess of the opportunity, sending his header wide of the target.
10
Young causes further problems with a corner and Almunia scrambles across his goal-line to punch the ball to safety.
7
It has been a positive start from Villa but Steve Sidwell may be disappointed not to have put them ahead against his former club.
5
Sidwell gets a yard on Alex Song from a corner and his header cannons back off the crossbar. A close shave for Arsenal.
3
James Milner floats a cross towards the near post for Ashley Young who loses his marker, but it is just too high for the forward and Manuel Almunia gathers the ball.
2
Samir Nasri slides through Vassiriki Abou Diaby inside the box but he cannot control the ball and Steve Sidwell picks up possession for Aston Villa.
1
Robin Van Persie is a lone striker for today's game as Arsene Wenger opts for a 4-5-1 formation.
1
Kickoff
Referee Lee Mason gets the game underway.
Awaiting Kickoff
Johan Djourou was expected to start for Arsenal but an injury in the warm up paves way for Kolo Toure who starts the game at centre back. Mikael Silvestre replaces Gael Clichy at left-back while Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor are ruled out.
Awaiting Kickoff
Martin Laursen misses his first Premiership game for 20 months and is replaced by Zat Knight for Aston Villa. Meanwhile Nigel Reo-Coker fills in at right-back for the injured Carlos Cuellar.
Aston Villa
Arsenal
Full time
Full Time: ASTON VILLA 2-2 ARSENAL. A thrilling end to the Boxing Day fixtures as Arsenal let another lead slip in stoppage time. The result means Villa and Arsenal remain in the same positions, fourth and fifth respectively.
Yellow Card
Barry picks up a late booking for Villa
Arsene Wenger is livid on the touchline and it is not the first time that his side have conceded leads in stoppage time this season.
Goal
ASTON VILLA 2-2 ARSENAL: Barry goes up for a header and the ball drops to ZAT KNIGHT in the box and he smashes the ball past Almunia and into the back of the net.
There will be four minutes of added time at Villa Park.
Barry loops a set piece into the danger area and Knight cushions a header down inside the box but it falls to Toure rather than a team-mate and the Arsenal defender hacks the ball clear.
It looks set to be a shaky final few minutes for the visitors as Villa are throwing everything forward at every opportunity.
Clichy picks up the ball on the halfway line and has space to run into but as he reaches the box he does not have a team-mate in support and Villa snuff out the attack.
Petrov takes on Denilson before striking a shot at goal but a yellow shirt gets in the way and deflects the ball away from danger.
Substitution
Wenger makes a defensive substitution as Nasri makes way for Gael Clichy.
Yellow Card
Petrov goes into the book for showing dissent.
Kolo Toure fails to deal with a Villa cross properly and finds Luke Young on the edge of the box but his delivery is poor and Arsenal pick up the ball.
Yellow Card
Reo-Coker is also cautioned by the referee.
Yellow Card
Van Persie and Reo-Coker come together and exchange words and the referee pulls out the yellow card for the Arsenal striker.
A Young cross misses everyone in the box and bounces through to Milner whose shot from the corner of the box is blocked by a yellow shirt.
Yellow Card
The referee pulls play back and shows Agbonlahor a yellow card for attempting to bring down Diaby in the build up to the previous attack.
Arsenal go forward on the break and Ramsay picks up the ball on the edge of the box but it gets caught under his feet and he fails to get a shot away.
Wenger is apparently unhappy with the penalty decision but replays show that it was a correct decision from the officials.
Play stops for a few moments. The referee is called to the touchline to sort out a conflict between the two managers Arsene Wenger and Martin O'Neill.
That is Barry's 50th Villa goal and it comes on the day he is restored as captain.
Goal
ASTON VILLA 1-2 ARSENAL: GARETH BARRY makes no mistake from the spot as he smashes the ball into the top left corner.
Agbonlahor is brought down in the box by Gallas and Lee Mason points to the spot.
Agbonlahor gets a shot away but it is blocked by an Arsenal defender.
A Sidwell run is not picked up by the Arsenal defence and he reaches the byline before cutting the ball back to Young in a great position, but Sagna puts in a vital interception.
Confidence is flowing through the Arsenal ranks at the moment and they are playing some exceptional football.
Villa work the ball on the corner of the box but cannot find a hole in the Arsenal defence and eventually the visitors regain possession.
Ramsey chips a cross over the Villa defence and plants the ball on the head of van Persie who directs the ball well wide of the target.
Lovely football from Arsenal and Denilson's scuffed effort falls to van Persie who rattles the post from 12-yards out.
Villa will not give up this game just yet and Agbonlahor goes in search of a goal but the attack is snuffed out at the byline by Kolo Toure.
A fantastic start to the second-half for Arsenal who have only had two shots at goal in this game!
Yellow Card
Diaby is shown a yellow card by Lee Mason for celebrating with the Arsenal fans.
Goal
ASTON VILLA 0-2 ARSENAL: Eboue runs at the Villa defence and delays his pass. He finally plays through ABOU DIABY who coolly fires the ball home from 12-yards.
Second half
The second-half gets underway and both sides remain unchanged.
Half time
Half Time - ASTON VILLA 0-1 ARSENAL. The hosts will be wondering how they have managed to go in behind at the interval after hitting the woodwork three times and having an opportunity cleared off the line.
Substitution
Arsene Wenger is forced to make an early change with an injury to Alex Song. Aaron Ramsey takes his place.
Reo-Coker puts a high cross into the box. Agbonlahor sends a looping header goal-wards with Almunia committed to the ball but Sagna clears the ball off the line with an acrobatic bicycle kick.
Goal
ASTON VILLA 0-1 ARSENAL: Nigel Reo-Coker in possession and DENILSON bursts into the box before sliding a shot underneath a helpless Brad Friedel.
Curtis Davies hits an effort goal-wards and holds his head in his hands as it comes back off the crossbar.
Yellow Card
Kolo Toure is cautioned for a badly timed tackle on Agbonlahor.
Another let off for Arsenal as the home side rattle the woodwork for the second time.
Young sends an inviting ball to the far post and finds Milner. His first time effort is turned onto the post by Alumnia before the ball bounces back into the arms of the grateful goalkeeper.
Agbonlahor gets behind the Arsenal defence and is one-on-one with Almunia before being pulled back for offside. A close call from the linesman.
The tempo has slowed down since the opening quarter of an hour but the hosts still look the most likely to open the scoring.
Young swings another corner into the mixer and Almunia does well to punch the ball away
Yellow Card
Alex Song picks up the first booking of the game after a rash challenge on Stiliyan Petrov. The defender will now miss the FA Cup tie against Plymouth in January.
The visitors look frustrated and are becoming slightly sloppy as an attacking move comes to an end with Emmanuel Eboue giving the ball away cheaply.
Gabriel Agbonlahor gets a shot away from inside the box and Alumnia's save falls into the feet of Sidwell whose shot is deflected wide by an Arsenal defender.
The resulting corner is cleared by Song but Arsenal look rattled.
An Aston Villa set piece is cleared only as far as Luke Young who strikes a shot goal-wards. It takes a wicked deflection and Almunia pulls off a fine save to tip the ball over the bar.
The visitors break now though and van Persie gets into the box but Zat Knight puts in a long leg to boot the ball to safety.
Villa are on the front foot at the moment and are taking the game to Arsenal who cannot seem to get out of their own half.
The ball comes back out to Young and he finds Curtis Davies open on the edge of the six-yard box but he makes a mess of the opportunity, sending his header wide of the target.
Young causes further problems with a corner and Almunia scrambles across his goal-line to punch the ball to safety.
It has been a positive start from Villa but Steve Sidwell may be disappointed not to have put them ahead against his former club.
Sidwell gets a yard on Alex Song from a corner and his header cannons back off the crossbar. A close shave for Arsenal.
James Milner floats a cross towards the near post for Ashley Young who loses his marker, but it is just too high for the forward and Manuel Almunia gathers the ball.
Samir Nasri slides through Vassiriki Abou Diaby inside the box but he cannot control the ball and Steve Sidwell picks up possession for Aston Villa.
Robin Van Persie is a lone striker for today's game as Arsene Wenger opts for a 4-5-1 formation.
Kickoff
Referee Lee Mason gets the game underway.
Awaiting Kickoff
Johan Djourou was expected to start for Arsenal but an injury in the warm up paves way for Kolo Toure who starts the game at centre back. Mikael Silvestre replaces Gael Clichy at left-back while Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor are ruled out.
Awaiting Kickoff
Martin Laursen misses his first Premiership game for 20 months and is replaced by Zat Knight for Aston Villa. Meanwhile Nigel Reo-Coker fills in at right-back for the injured Carlos Cuellar.