Gunners settle for a point in bore draw with Villa

Arsenal had to settle for a single point after Aston Villa held them to a 0-0 draw on Saturday evening at Villa Park. It was a poor performance going forward from the Gunners and they didn't really deserve to pick up 3 points anyway as Wenger rested key names. The key names missing were perhaps the downfall in performance as Walcott missed out through injury whilst Vermaelen, Sagna and Wilshere were all dropped to the bench. However there was a welcome return to action for Kieran Gibbs who started for the first time since returning from yet another injury.

Oxlade-Chamberlain got given a chance to impress with Walcott out injured

The first sight of goal went Villa's way as Weimann struck a shot from a tight angle on the left handside but Szczesny was equal to it and the ball went out for a corner.

Villa were to have the next chance aswell. Westwood's corner found Benteke but his looping header bounced wide.

Arsenal then finally had their first shot on goal and it came in the 20th minute. Oxlade-Chamberlain cut inside and hit a shot but Guzan wasn't troubled and it went wide.

The Gunners were begining to find possession now and after Podolski's shot was blocked, Chamberlain gave it to Ramsey who turned Bannan before drilling a shot which was kept out by Guzan.

Aston Villa then thought they'd broken the deadlock but unfortunately for them it was disallowed. The ball was layed off to Clark whose shot fell to Weimann and he put the ball in the back of the net but his celebration was cut short as it was ruled out for offside.

Two minutes before the break Arsenal were presented with the best chance of the match. Giroud did well down the left hand side before putting in a low cross which found Koscielny but from six yards out he put the ball over.

The first chance of the second half fell to Arsenal. Chamberlain found Cazorla who then played a nice one-two with Giroud before firing wide.

Ramsey was having one of the best games that he'd played in so far this season and he created the next chance as he found Podolski inside the penalty area but the German's shot was blocked.

The resulting corner ended up as a chance for Aaron Ramsey as Cazorla's corner was flicked to the back post by Giroud but Ramsey skyed his shot.

Villa then had their best chance of the half as Benteke linked up well with Holman before finding Agbonlahor but he stuck his shot straight at Szczesny.

The hosts then came the closest to scoring in the match as Holman drove a fierce effort from range which Szczesny got a hand to, and the ball then thundered back off the bar.

Andrey Arshavin looked lively when he came on and then almost set up a goal with a trademark cross but Clark got ahead of Gervinho to deny what would have been a certain goal.

The final score finished Villa 0-0 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar(51), Clark, Stevens, El Ahmadi(63), Westwood, Bannan, Weimann(90), Agbonlahor, Benteke.
Subs: Given, Lichaj(51), Bowery, Holman(63), Delph, Ireland, Albrighton(90).

Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain(77), Podolski(70), Giroud(86). 
Subs: Mannone, Sagna, Vermaelen, Coquelin(86), Wilshere, Arshavin(77), Gervinho(70). 

My man of the match: Per Mertesacker

Referee: Lee Mason
Attendance: 34,607