Yossi Benayoun came off the bench to secure all three points for Arsenal heading in an 86th minute winner to beat Aston Villa who had Alan Hutton sent off.
The Israeli, on loan from rivals Chelsea, was on hand to nod Robin Van Persie’s corner into the Villa net to seal a win that keeps the Gunners within earshot of the top four. It was the least the Gunners deserved with Alex McLeish’s side deserving at least a point for their much improved performance following their limp display against Liverpool on Sunday. Marc Albrighton’s goal, and the Premier League’s 20,oooth, looked on course to claim a share of the spoils after he cancelled out Robin Van Persie’s penalty after 17 minutes. It wasn’t to be though as Benayoun popped up to break the hearts of those in claret and blue and give provide the perfect response to their narrow defeat at the hands of Manchester City last weekend.
Having not been beaten at Villa Park since 1995 Arsenal looked as if they expected to leave the Midlands with victory but the home side were having none of it and had the best of the opening exchanges. Wojciech Szczesny denied Gabriel Agbonlahor early on as Villa created in abundance but lacked the killer touch normally provided by the injured Darren Bent. They would be made to pay for failing to take their chances with the Gunners scoring with their first meaningful attack. Theo Walcott strode into the penalty area after beating Ciaran Clark who tugged at the wingers shirt and sending him sprawling towards the turf. Referee Jon Moss had no hesitation in pointing to the spot allowing Van Persie to score his 34th goal of 2011 and put his side in the lead. Walcott then had a chance to make it two immediately after but was denied by the onrushing Brad Guzan.
Villa continued to probe after the break and finally got their reward 10 minutes after the restart courtesy of some pantomime Arsenal defending. Thomas Vermaelen’s weak pass put Per Mertesacker in a conundrum allowing Albrighton to nip in and flick the ball around the German before slotting past Szczesny to net the landmark goal. The Gunners went straight back on the offensive and Mertesacker almost made up for his error but couldn’t beat Guzan with his strike. It was left to substitute Benayoun to provide a dramatic late sucker punch to Villa heading home Van Persie’s corner before the hosts had Hutton sent off for a late challenge on Vermaelen just a few minutes after being booked for dissent.
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