Live Text isn't live anymore, this is a record of the match events.

• 90

  REMINDER: Stay online for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and Nigel Winterburn will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).

• Full Time FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 1 VILLA 2

• 90

  VERMAELEN HITS IT... but his shot crashes into the wall. Arsenal still on the attack though. Another cross from the right, but Villa head clear

• 90

  FREE KICK TO ARSENAL: Dunne clips Van Persie and the Dutchman will fancy this, 20 yards out and slightly to the right

• 90

  TWO MINUTES OF STOPPAGES TO GO: Arsenal pour forward in search of an equaliser. Villa have everyone behind the ball

• 90

  Substitution SUB: Delph goes off, Heskey comes on

• 90

  Yellow Card YELLOW CARD: Young goes in the book for time-wasting

• 89

  VAN PERSIE PULLS A GOAL BACK! It was an instinctive finish after Bendtner's bustling run into the box. A glimmer of hope for Arsenal

• 89

  GOAL! - Robin van Persie 1 : 2 GOAL! ARSENAL 1 VILLA 2

• 89

  BENDTNER DOES WELL: He's made an impact since coming on and tries to find Chamakh. The pass gets there but the tackle comes in

• 88

  LAP OF APPRECIATION: We'll be showing it live on the Arsenal TV Online console so stay tuned after the final whistle for that AND our post-match show

• 87

  BENDTNER GOES DOWN THE LEFT: That's a decent run but his low cross is cut out by Friedel at the near post

• 86

  BENT TRIES HIS LUCK: The England man shoots from 22 yards but that swerves wide. He's on a hat-trick of course

• 85

  CHANCE FOR ARSENAL: Van Persie gets a yard of space inside the box but Friedel comes out to smother.

• 84

  WILSHERE AND CHAMAKH COLLIDE: They both go down but that's nothing serious and both are up and running

• 83

  FREE KICK TO ARSENAL: Song is brought down on the right. Walcott will take it but it evades everyone. No Arsenal player attacked the six-yard box

• 82

  REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and Nigel Winterburn will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).

• 80

  Substitution SUB: Bradley comes on for Petrov

• 79

  ANOTHER FINE BLOCK: This time Song is denied by desperate defending. Wilshere picks out Ramsey... and he sweeps a shot wide

• 78

  FRIEDEL DENIES CHAMAKH: Arsenal piling on the pressure now and the Moroccan's first-time effort is well held after Gibbs makes inroads

• 77

  Yellow Card CHAMAKH HEADS IT IN! But the flag goes up for a push by the striker on Walker. Bendtner complains too vociferously and goes in the book

• 76

  VERMAELEN TAKES A KNOCK: He needs a breather but eventually trots back on

• 74

  SZCZESNY SAVES WELL: Young and Downing test the Arsenal keeper after a quick break from the visitors

• 73

  DUNNE HEADS CLEAR: Excellent defending after Gibbs had chipped Friedel. Chamakh and Bendtner caused mayhem in the box.

• 71

  VAN PERSIE HITS THE WALL: The captain wastes his free kick but the ball breaks for Ramsey who hooks a shot over the bar. Difficult chance

• 70

  PETROV BRINGS DOWN SONG: Arsenal fans bay for a red card - he's been booked already - but the ref just warns the Villa midfielder

• 69

  ARSENAL DOMINANT: But all their possession has not realised a goal yet. And time is running out

• 67

  BENDTNER CURLS IN A CROSS... and it's flicked away for a corner. Van Persie's delivery is punched clear by Friedel

• 65

  WALCOTT WITH THE FREE KICK... it's a decent delivery but the header down is easy for Friedel

• 64

  Yellow Card YELLOW CARD: Dunne goes in the book for a late tackle

• 62

  ARSENAL CORNER: Bendtner wins the header with his first touch and Walcott just fails to turn it in at the near post

• 62

  Substitution SUB: Bendtner comes on, Arshavin comes off.

• 61

  VILLA ON THE BREAK: But Ramsey does well to get back and win the ball. Arshavin goes on a run and wins the corner... and now he's coming off

• 60

  VAN PERSIE FIRES OVER: Wonderful chance goes begging. The captain skips past Walker but gets underneath his shot. Bendtner is warming up

• 58

  GREAT SAVE FRIEDEL! Gibbs forces a point-blank stop from the Villa keeper after a slick move involving Arshavin and Van Persie. In comes the corner and Wilshere volleys over after it's half-cleared

• 56

  CHAMAKH CHECKS HIS RUN... just as Arshavin tried to play him through. The offside flag was up anyway.

• 54

  DOWNING AND DELPH LINK UP: The latter finds the former but Downing's cross is straight into Szczesny's arms

• 52

  MORE WOE FOR WALCOTT: Nothing is going right for Theo today. He wants a corner but a goal kick is given

• 51

  SAGNA WON'T REACH THAT: Ramsey's firm pass is too heavy and too far in front of the right back. Arsenal are working hard but they haven't clicked yet

• 49

  THREE SUBS WARMING UP: Bendtner, Eboue, Denilson. Meanwhile the flag goes up as Walcott goes through down the right

• 47

  ARSHAVIN SHOOTS... and Friedel saves. It was straight at him mind you. Arsenal stay on top and Chamakh almost gets on the end of a cross

• 46

  BENT GOES CLEAR! Vermaelen races back to put him off and the England striker shoots at Szczesny. That could have been game, set and match

• Kick Off WE'RE BACK UNDERWAY: Arsenal need two goals - at least. Third place probably depends on it

• 45

  Substitution SUB: I was wrong. Squillaci has gone off so Song drops into defence and Chamakh joins Van Persie up front. An attacking move forced by injury or tactics?

• 45

  THE TEAMS ARE BACK OUT: Villa first, then the Arsenal. Chamakh is getting his tracksuit off - a change is imminent. My money's on Walcott coming off

• 45

  HALF-TIME FEATURE: Enjoy that while we take a quick break. Back in a bit...

• 45

  THAT'S YOUR LOT FOR NOW: Dreadful start from Arsenal but they have dominated since Bent's early double and should have had a penalty when Ramsey was brought down. Van Persie has hit the post but the Gunners have it all to do.

• Half Time HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 0 VILLA 2

• 44

  MORE CONTROVERSY: Walcott flicks the ball inside to Van Persie and his marker Dunne takes a tumble. Free kick to Villa and Arsenal are furious - they had a clear shot on goal there. All the marginal decisions have gone against Arsenal

• 43

  WALCOTT LOSES OUT: Theo has been quiet so far, thanks largely to Luke Young on the Villa left

• 41

  GIBBS CATCHES WALKER: That was a late one but not a nasty one. Kieran gets away with a warning

• 39

  ANOTHER ARSENAL CORNER: Van Persie takes this one and Squillaci heads well wide

• 37

  VAN PERSIE HITS THE POST! So unlucky. The skipper races through the centre, checks back, beats Collins and smashes a shot against the post. Ramsey wins a corner and Vermaelen heads that just over. RVP could have had a hat-trick

• 35

  Yellow Card YELLOW CARD: Petrov goes in the book for a late challenge on Wilshere. Jack getting plenty of rough treatment

• 35

  WELL PLAYED SONG: His persistence catches Reo-Coker out on his own byline but Arshavin can't quite get to the cut-back

• 33

  ANOTHER PENALTY SHOUT! Van Persie goes past Dunne and is barged off the ball. The ref says no once again - that was less clear-cut, it has to be said

• 32

  VILLA LOOK TO BREAK: And with the likes of Young and Delph and Downing they have plenty of pace on the counter-attack. Gibbs snuffs this one out

• 31

  VAN PERSIE WITH THE SHOT! Dunne comes across to get something on it and Arsenal have a corner. Much more like it

• 29

  HUGE PENALTY SHOUT! Ramsey goes through and Dunne kicks his leg as he looks to pull the trigger. It looks like a nailed-on spot-kick but the ref says no. Dear oh dear.

• 28

  GOOD ARSENAL MOVE: Once again Vermaelen makes something happen with a powerful run through the centre. He finds Arshavin and Gibbs wins the corner... in it comes and Sagna fires a deflected shot wide

• 27

  GREAT CROSS FROM SAGNA: First-time effort just eludes Van Persie and Walker cleverly beats Arshavin to the loose ball

• 26

  JACK'S BACK: Let's hope he doesn't seek retribution. We're underway again and Sagna sees the ball out after Young tries to go past him

• 25

  WALCOTT GETS IN: Good ball from Song and Theo gets to it inside the box, clipping it high across goal. No one can get on the end of it though. Meanwhile Wilshere is down after a bad challenge from Reo-Coker

• 24

  Yellow Card YELLOW CARD: Reo-Coker goes in the book

• 23

  MORE GROANS: Song's pass is overhit and runs out of play with Walcott stretching. Frankly, Arsenal look a pale shadow of their usual selves

• 23

  ARSHAVIN TAKES... and Friedel claims easily

• 22

  ARSENAL PRESSURE: The hosts are keeping the ball far better now. They win a corner after Vermaelen steps into the attack

• 20

  WALCOTT GOES ON A RUN: That's the first time he's had a chance to stretch his legs. The challenge comes in from Collins

• 18

  VAN PERSIE FINDS THE NET! But he is offside. The skipper thought the clearance from Friedel bounced off a Villa man but up goes the flag. Good finish but it won't count

• 17

  YOUNG LOOKS FOR BENT AGAIN: That combination is ripping Arsenal to shreds but Szczesny gets there first this time

• 15

  BENT HAS DOUBLED VILLA'S MONEY: Vermaelen slipped, allowing Young to slide the ball through for Bent, who just stayed onside. The finish was exemplary and Arsenal are in deep trouble now

• 15

  GOAL! - Darren Bent 0 : 2 GOAL! ARSENAL 0 VILLA 2

• 14

  ARSHAVIN TRIES TO RESPOND: He dashes down the left but the impressive Walker gets in a solid challenge

• 12

  WONDERFUL FINISH FROM BENT: A long pass from Walker picked out Villa's record signing and he chested it down before volleying past Szczesny. Fine technique and you have to say Villa deserve it

• 12

  GOAL! - Darren Bent 0 : 1 GOAL! ARSENAL 0 VILLA 1

• 10

  ARSENAL SECOND BEST: Villa have carved out the best chances so far and they have a corner... Downing takes it and the home side just about get it away

• 9

  SONG SHEPHERDS DOWNING: And he gets the goal kick. Good defending. Hang on though... Bent is through, he tries to find Delph, but the return ball is poor

• 8

  WILSHERE UPS THE TEMPO: Jack tries to make something happen but a decent spell of pressure ends with a slack pass from Sagna. All the entertainment so far has come from the away fans - they are in full voice

• 6

  SLOPPY FROM VAN PERSIE: His first touch lets him down but the skipper tracks back to atone for his error with a good strong challenge.

• 5

  ARSHAVIN WITH THE PASS... he looked for Wilshere but across comes Collins to clear

• 3

  DOWNING FIZZES IN A CROSS: The Villa winger gets down the right but that eludes Bent

• 2

  BRIGHT START FROM VILLA: The visitors look lively. Bent is their lone frontman but Young and Delph are looking to get forward in support

• 1

  MASSIVE CHEER FOR VERMAELEN: A roar greets Thomas' first touch on his return from injury. He's a reassuring sight, for sure

• Kick Off OFF WE GO! Arsenal attacking the Clock End in the first half

• The sun is trying its best to break through the clouds in north London, the pitch looks perfect as ever and we're just about ready to get underway. Dan and Nigel are chatting away to my left - e-mail our commentary team at www.arsenal.com/studio

• Robin van Persie is ready to lead out Arsenal... and here they come. A big cheer, lots of applause and that old favourite - the official Premier League handshake music.

• The Villa players are in the tunnel. There's Brad Friedel - he's been a thorn in the side down the years. I remember one game, possibly at Highbury, when he pretty much kept Arsenal out on his own.

• Dangermouse, Wonder Woman and a carrot also spotted in the Villa end. We're just five minutes away from kick off here at the Emirates.

• Elvis blasts out 'The Wonder Of You' for the final time this season. On come the sprinklers as the players head down the tunnel for their final preparations. And some of the Villa fans are decked out in fancy dress - there's at least one alien in there

• Lots of presentations taking place at pitchside. Marouane Chamakh gets his EBEL Fastest Goal prize, Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri and Bacary Sagna receive their PFA Team of the Year gongs and Robin van Persie is presented with his Player of the Month award.

• Dan Roebuck and Nigel Winterburn are in position to my left. Get your e-mails to them at www.arsenal.com/studio

• Speaking of appreciation, the home fans have just shown theirs for Robert Pires. The Arsenal legend is back in north London in Villa colours and starts on the bench today

• WATCH THE LAP OF APPRECIATION: Stay online after the final whistle today to watch a live stream of the players' 'lap of appreciation'. Our post-match debate, with Dan and Nigel, will start straight after it

• Tell you what though, second place is not beyond Arsenal. Chelsea have just been held to a 2-2 draw by Newcastle so a home win at Emirates will close the gap to one point.

• Incidentally I'm Chris Harris, your text commentator for the day. Hopefully I'll be guiding you through a comprehensive home win that all but seals third place. Anything less than a victory will leave the door open for FA Cup winners Manchester City to pile on the pressure when they face Stoke again in midweek. Arsenal are currently two points clear of City and they have a far superior goal difference too.

• Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn joins Dan Roebuck in the commentary box and they will be taking your e-mails during and after the game. Get your voice heard via the website at www.arsenal.com/studio.

• Our MatchDay Show gets underway in around 15 minutes so if you haven't logged in, now is the time. We'll show you highlights from the win at Villa earlier this season plus the best moments from Arsene Wenger's pre-match press conference

• A smattering of youth on the bench with Henderson and Miquel among the subs. Denilson returns from injury and Lehmann continues in the absence of Almunia

• The eagle-eyed among you will have worked out that Fabregas and Nasri have failed their late fitness tests while Koscielny, Diaby and Djourou are also out. In comes Squillaci to partner Vermaelen and they are the only two changes

• SUBS: Lehmann, Denilson, Eboue, Chamakh, Bendtner, Henderson, Miquel

• ARSENAL TEAM: Szczesny, Sagna, Squillaci, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Wilshere, Ramsey, Arshavin, Walcott, Van Persie

• But there is at least one reason to get excited about today's game: THOMAS VERMAELEN IS BACK. The Belgian defender returns to the side for the first time since August.

• Glum? Thinking of what might have been? Yeah, me too. Arsenal v Aston Villa could, perhaps should, have been a key fixture in the title race. Instead, it will only have a bearing on whether the Gunners reach the Champions League without a summer qualifier.

Arsenal v Aston Villa (9)