Arsenal:
                          Lehmann
                Lauren Campbell Toure Cole
Pires (van Persie 84) Vieira (Flamini 66) Cesc Reyes (Pennant 6)
                     Bergkamp Henry 

Carlton Cole got free down their left and crossed to Lee Hendrie who was further from goal on the far side of the pitch. It looked something of an accident, and he even managed to cross it behind Hendrie. But he did well to reach behind himself to control it, and bring the ball forward before shooting. Not the most forcefully-struck of shots, perhaps, but it bounced nastily just in front of Lehmann and found its way inside his right hand post. It looked like Jens might have done better, but I'd have to see the replays before blaming him in any way. The defence should certainly have closed Hendrie down a lot quicker.

Hard to say that the goal galvanised Arsenal, since it came too early for a pattern to have developed. But it certainly didn't knock them back.

A dazzling run by Bergkamp took him past most of the Villa defence before being blocked by Delaney as he got close to goal. It came to Vieira who had made a supporting run through the middle, and he poked it past Postma (in goal for Sorensen) before falling over the keeper's leg. The ref gave nothing, and he may well have been right.

Moments later a nice passing move ended with Bergkamp squaring the ball to Vieira, whose low shot forced a good save from Postma, using his legs again.

Postma was busy again soon after when Cole's run and shot from the left brought out another fine save at the near post.

On 19 minutes Henry ran into the box from the left and was tripped by Delaney. As seems to be the norm these days when Henry is the man fouled, it was Pires who took the penalty. And he made no mistake, firing high to the keeper's right.

Sorensen's place must be in danger following this dislay from Postma. He had no chance with the penalty but seemed to be able to make a save whenever he was given a sniff of one. Pires ran down the right and passed inside to Vieira who slipped it on to Reyes on the left... another good save from Postma.

Then Reyes went on a solo run down the inside right route, and was pushed over by Hendrie just outside the box. As Reyes fell in front of him, Hendrie had little choice but to jump over him, and Reyes was clearly none too pleased. He got up and approached Hendrie, and after both players had put their heads together (not forcefully), the Villa player fell down like he'd been headbutted. Fortunately, the ref didn't fall for it.

We nearly scored with a route one move. Reyes picked the ball up in defence and lofted it forward for Henry in the D. He laid it off to Bergkamp on his right whose low first time shot forced another good save.

Yet another save came from a great turn and shot from Henry on the edge of the box, and finally Arsenal took the lead in injury time. Again it was Reyes who passed forward for Henry, this time making a trademark run towards goal from the left. A couple of yards into the box, he opened up his body and hit a sweet side-footed shot low inside the far post.

The highlight of the second half came early - another fine save from Postma to deny Reyes, after a one-two of back-flicks from himself and Henry. More saves followed, 2 from Pires and one from Henry - the latter a bit lucky as the keeper kind of sat on the ball as it went below him.

J Loyd Samuel earned a yellow card for a studs-high foul on Vieira, who had to come off with Flamini replacing him. Soon after coming on, Flamini was involved in the final goal of the game. He brought the ball forward down the right and squared it for Henry. He nonchalantly tapped the ball on for Pires who had made a run into space on his left, and Bobby made no mistake for 3-1. Arsenal had had 16 shots on target, to just 2 from the visitors (apparently, I don't remember the second).

With Chelsea slipping up with a loss at Manchester City, Arsenal have extended the lead at the top of the table to 5 points.