Nicklas Bendtner scored deep into stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw for Arsenal against Aston Villa.
Gunners stay top after last-gasp equaliser
Nicklas Bendtner scored deep into stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa and keep Arsenal top of the Premier League.
The Gunners were out of sorts throughout and Villa capitalised in the 27th minute as Gabriel Agbonlahor raced down the left and delivered a low cross that Philippe Senderos could only stab inadvertently past Manuel Almunia.
The Gunners tried their utmost to battle back into the game and dominated possession in the second half, but they were mostly restricted to hopeful shots from distance as Villa soaked up the pressure comfortably.
Scott Carson was called on to make a few smart stops but Almunia was also busy at the other end as the impressive Agbonlahor and substitute Marlon Harewood threatened on the break.
It looked as though Villa would hold on for a deserved victory to boost their European hopes, before Bendtner slammed home from close range in the 93rd minute.
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The first decent opening came after seven minutes as Emmanuel Adebayor flicked a long pass on to Theo Walcott at the edge of the penalty area.
The England Under-21 striker took the ball on his chest and expertly spun marker Curtis Davies before drilling in an angled shot, which Scott Carson pushed away at full stretch.
On 14 minutes, Arsenal captain William Gallas had to be alert to make a saving tackle on Agbonlahor as the England Under-21 man sprinted away down the left and into the penalty area.
Carson spilled a corner and the ball dropped to Senderos on the penalty spot. However, the centre-back was caught by surprise and rushed his shot, which was horribly wide before putting through his own in the 27th minute.
The visitors were forced into a change on 32 minutes when Nigel Reo-Coker limped off, and was replaced by Zat Knight. Arsenal, stunned by falling behind, slowly regrouped and mounted a decent spell of pressure.
The stretcher was out with six minutes to go to half-time as Davies had to be carried off following an accidental clash with Abou Diaby and O'Neill had to make a second unexpected change, as Isaiah Osbourne was introduced.
The visitors were within inches of going 2-0 up when Almunia pushed a fierce 20-yard drive from Shaun Maloney onto the angle of post and crossbar.
Arsenal broke quickly in stoppage time down the right through Walcott, who delayed his cut-back to Adebayor too long. The African then fed Cesc Fabregas on the overlap, but his attempted chip into the far corner was way off target.
Electric
Arsenal made an electric start - as Walcott darted in on the right side of the penalty area following a neat one-two with Fabregas and then drilled a low, angled shot which Carson saved well at the near post.
Arsenal continued to press, but Villa were closing down well, Indeed, the visitors looked dangerous on the counter-attack, and on 54 minutes, Ashley Young had Almunia at full stretch to keep out his low shot from the edge of the Arsenal box.
However, as the hour mark approached, the home side upped the tempo and the Emirates Stadium faithful found their voice. Wenger sent on Bendtner for Diaby after 59 minutes, with Walcott moving out to the right.
Carson denied Hleb low at his near post before a deep free-kick from Fabregas floated over to Adebayor, but the Togo striker could not keep his header down.
Villa's final sub Marlon Harewood almost grabbed a second when he brushed off Senderos, only to be denied by another good save from Almunia.
Gareth Barry, the Villa skipper, was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card when he slid in two-footed on Denilson.
Arsenal pressed in the closing stages - and rescued a point when Bendtner stabbed home from close range.
