Arsenal drop another 2 points against Aston Villa on a day when Manchester United soundly thrashed 10-men Liverpool 4-0. Arsenal now lead the Premiership table by virtue of our superior goal difference.

Watching the game on satellite TV, I have to say that Arsenal looked lethargic, lacking their usual swagger, their cut and thrust football that has been so evident this season. Villa set their stalls out to defend, and caught Arsenal on the counter-attack numerous times. If it wasn't for Hadji making poor use of posession and attempting to shoot at goal whenever the opportunity arose instead of playing a clever pass, Arsenal may well have found themselves a goal down in the first half.

But the Gunners came out with all guns blazing in the second half, still looking lethargic, but playing the ball to feet quicker, being more direct. Vieria squandered a glorious opportunity when he hashed a shot with the goal gaping after poor clearing by the Villa defence, and Ljungberg lost his balance trying to get to a pass from Henry that surely would have resulted with Enckelman picking the ball up from the back of the Villa net.

Eventually, the goal came. Lauren passed to Bergkamp who played a delightful through ball to Gilberto who's shot was parried by Enckelman into the path of our super Swede. 1-0 to the Arsenal, and Arsenal began to boss the game, winning the midfield battles, though the Villains were still looking threatening on the break.

Cygan failed to clear a corner by Villa and the ball fell to Toure who lashed at it with Allback lurking just beside him. I wouldn't hold Toure against it, because Lauren could well have given him a shout and if the ball wasn't cleared then, Allback would have been left with a tap-in. Arsenal looked shell-shocked.

Jeffers and Wiltord came on to try to give Arsenal an even more cutting-edge but towards the end our final ball was poor and the game ended at 1 apiece.

Rupe adds...
Aidan has updated the run-in spreadsheet. Like he says, we just just wish it hadn't become so necessary....