Top of the alphabetical table, the two teams went into Villa Park tonight both hoping for a win today.
The Gunners had their usual back line, Fabregas, Denilson and Ramsey in the midfield and Rosicky, Arshavin and Eduardo up front.
Both sides were looking very enthusiastic and ready to get at each other, knowing that a win today for either side today would spell good progress in the Premiership.
The Gunners kicked off, but Villa had the share of the shots in the first 10 minutes, the closest being Agbonlahor, with his effort in the 4th minute slipping through Almunia's arms to go out for a corner. Aston Villa showing their attacking flair through the pace of Gabriel, and looking for goals. Why would they not, when they have not scored in their previous four games?
Arsenal were slowly coming back into the game though, with a corner that Fabregas took,and the left footed shot by Denilson was well saved by Friedel. That chance was through sloppy defending, no one covering Denilson, while he has scored from long range before, even in our last game against Stoke.
4 minutes later and Villa's best chance of the game came through a foul by Vermaelen, earning him a yellow, on the edge of the box. Four Aston Villa players lined up for the free kick, and Ashley Young, undoubtedly the most creative Villa player of the night had a well struck shot, that brushed the top of the net. He couldn't have missed the goal, or the crossbar by very much at all.
The remainder of the Arsenal chances in this first half all came through Fabregas, the first off a corner, he recieved it back again only to shoot from a very tight angle, hoping for a deflection.
His other effort from the free kick hit the wall, and his last he weaved through the defense, his shot hit the left post, Ramsey and Rosicky had a bit more than a mix up, which gave the defenders enough time to regroup, and Rosicky's now harmless shot went well over the bar.
As for Villa though, they had the chances, but failed to get one on target.
Half time came, with Aston Villa and Arsenal both looking for goals, and both with very close chances, but with bad news coming with Vermaelen injured, and former Arsenal man Sol Campbell coming on.
The second half started brightly again with Villa having another close chance. A cross whipped in from the right, Downing had the goal all to him but his shot fell just left of the goal, both teams breathing sighs of a different kind.
10 minutes later Arsenal had another great chance. Arshavin had a shot saved. the ball flew up in the air to Fabregas, he laid it off for Rosicky but his shot hit the crossbar. Another chance, another missed. I personally cannot see how in the world he had missed that, but there were 2 and more piling Villa defenders coming in, and perhaps he had a lot of pressure on him.
And if this match couldn't get any worse, missing chances, Eduardo went off for Bendtner because of an injury. 2 injuries today.
The rest of this match had both teams looking for goals that results in throw ins, plenty of fouls and substitutions, with both teams having chances but desperate defending deals with them.
Fabregas had another free kick that hits the wall again, Villa looking for counter attacks but Arsenal always comes up with an answer, but all coming to no avail,
The full time whistle came in the 93rd minute, the match ends 0-0. Both teams breath sighs of relief from the game, with plenty of excitement and chances.
The lesson today, take your chances. You won't get many of them in this game, so don't make a hash of it like Ramsey did with Rosicky.
The next games are against Man United and Chelsea. Points from those games is a must.