Live Text isn't live anymore, this is a record of the match events.
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Full Time FULL TIME: Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal
90
THREE MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME: Can either side find a winner?
Top Comments:
@Stileo on Twitter says:
If only we had shown that type of imputes 90 minutes earlier.
90
Substitution ASTON VILLA CHANGE: Marc Albrighton, who scored against Arsenal last season, is on for Weimann
87
GREAT INTERVENTION: Arshavin's cross looks to be heading straight to Gervinho until Clark diverts it away for a corner
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
Suddenly Arsenal have changed tactics and they are answering all of the questions. Arsenal are imposing their will. Arsene Wenger's changes seem to have worked.
86
Substitution SUBSTITUTION: Francis Coquelin replaces Giroud as Arsenal make their last change
82
GOOD COVERING: Benteke spins away from Koscielny but Mertesacker comes across to clear
Top Comments:
@manish_873 on Twitter says:
Nervous moments. All match long Benteke has been mentioned more than whole of Arsenal squad combined.
81
#AVFCvAFC: That's the hashtag to use if you want to have your say on Twitter. As ever we'll publish a selection of your comments right here
78
WHAT A SAVE THAT IS: Holman's shot looks destined for the net until Szczesny pulls off a fantastic stop to divert it onto the bar
77
Substitution ARSENAL MAKE THEIR SECOND CHANGE: Andrey Arshavin is on for Oxlade-Chamberlain
75
JUST A YARD AWAY: Ramsey slides a shot goalwards from outside the area. It flies just off target
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
Very decent effort from Aaron Ramsey. He did manage to get some power on the ball and it didn't go that far wide.
73
GOOD FROM BENTEKE: He gets away down the right and fizzes in a low cross that is just about cleared from danger
Top Comments:
@JonnyDixon92 on Twitter says:
Why are we sitting back expecting a goal to come at some point? We need some urgency, we're missing Theo and Wilshere.
72
E-MAIL OUR COMMENTATORS: Go to www.arsenal.com/studio to get in touch with Dan and Richard - they'll be fielding your comments throughout the game
70
Substitution HERE COMES GERVINHO: The Ivorian is back from injury and replaces Podolski
68
THE HOSTS ATTACK: Holman feeds Agbonlahor, but the England international's shot is straight at Szczesny
Top Comments:
Dan Roebuck on Arsenal Player says:
Aston Villa have done alright for me. They are playing above their Premier League position.
65
END TO END STUFF: The game is opening out as both sides chase the lead, though finding the final ball is proving to be difficult
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
Arsenal are starting to sustain the attack in a way they have not done yet. It has only been in fits and starts
63
Substitution ASTON VILLA CHANGE: Brett Holman is on for El Ahmadi
63
ARSENAL GO CLOSE AGAIN: Cazorla's corner is flicked on to Ramsey, who can't get over his effort and sends it over
Top Comments:
@Gabrieltoumazis on Twitter says:
Ramsey is having a great game! Apart from that miss of course!
62
BLOCKED BEHIND: Ramsey sets up Podolski, but his shot is deflected away for a corner
Top Comments:
Dan Roebuck on Arsenal Player says:
Arsenal will create chances from here on in, the question is will they capitalise on them? But this is a better Arsenal performance than the one against Norwich.
60
THE HOSTS ARE PRESSING: They force three successive corners but Arsenal's stout defence keeps them out
56
RAMSEY GOES CLOSE: Oxlade-Chamberlain drives at the defence before crossing low for Ramsey, who fails to get any real purchase on his effort
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
Good step over from Alex Oxlade-Chamvberlain. He showed good pace and I'm not quite sure Aaron Ramsey expected that the ball would make it to him
53
#AVFCvAFC: That's the hashtag to use if you want to have your say on Twitter. As ever we'll publish a selection of your comments right here
51
Substitution SUBSTITUTION: Eric Lichaj, clearly a supporter of Movember, is on for Ron Vlaar
Top Comments:
@vivalavinyl on Twitter says:
The most exciting part of the game so far is Eric Lichaj's moustache
50
SUMPTUOUS STUFF: Arsenal engineer a move thanks to some sharp, incisive play. Unfortunately, Giroud loses the ball 30 yards from goal
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
A big difference from the first half: Sant Cazorla has been on the ball -- and that can only be a good thing for Arsenal
47
OOOOH: Arsenal break and Cazorla plays a lovely one-two with Giroud before crashing a shot just over
Top Comments:
@Dhananjay_K_R on Twitter says:
Amazing tempo from Arsenal... passing masterclass on display! Brilliant!
Kick Off WE'RE BACK UNDERWAY: The teams are out and Aston Villa kick us off
Half Time HALF TIME: We're goalless at the break
Top Comments:
Stephen Hughes on Arsenal Player says:
We've got to make sure we start the second half out brightly and create some good opportunties
45
IT'S BEEN SCRAPPY: The driving rain and howling wind hasn't helped either team to get any real passing moves going
Top Comments:
@FredrickKong on Twitter says:
Sloppy game. We miss Marc Overmars and Pires on the left flank to do some damage.
43
WHAT A CHANCE: Koscielny sprints forward to meet Giroud's inviting cross, but can only spoon it over the bar from inside the area
Top Comments:
@realfond on Twitter says:
Missing the Walcott-Giroud partnership.
39
GREAT TACKLE: Mertesacker times a last-ditch tackle to perfection to deny Agbonlahor
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
It takes a strong referee to cope with decisions like those, and Lee Mason has got them both right.
@Ormey88 on Twitter says:
Inch perfect tackle from Mertesacker!
38
WEIMANN SCORES... BUT IT WON'T COUNT: The Austrian pokes home from close range but is offside
Top Comments:
@ChrisEJEllis13 on Twitter says:
Offside, would have been a harsh goal. Keeper let go off the ball, no handball, should not have been a freekick
37
SZCZESNY HANDLES OUTSIDE THE AREA: Referee Mason does not show him a card but the home side have a free kick in a dangerous position...
Top Comments:
Dan Roebuck on Arsenal Player says:
Sensible decision from the referee. Szczesny clearly wasn't trying to handle the ball outside of the area and it looked like it was more of his elbows rather than his hands
35
ARSENAL THREATEN: Jenkinson lashes a cross into the box before Cazorla's fierce effort is blocked
33
GET IN TOUCH: Go to www.arsenal.com/studio to get in touch with Dan and Richard - they'll be fielding your comments throughout the game
29
GOOD SAVE GUZAN: Oxlade-Chamberlain does well to get to the byline before eventually finding Ramsey, whose shot is well saved by the boalkeeper
Top Comments:
Paul Davis on Arsenal Player says:
This is one of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's brightest half hours of football this season
27
UNLUCKY PODOLSKI: Giroud tries to set him free but the German's touch lets him down and Guzan gathers
Top Comments:
@abdulmoha14 on Twitter says:
Nice display from the Arsenal attackers, slowly getting back into the game
22
Yellow Card BOOKED: El Ahmadi is booked after diving under Cazorla's challenge
20
CLOSE: Oxlade-Chamberlain cuts inside but drags his shot wide of Guzan's near post
19
MOVING SCENES AT VILLA PARK: The whole crowd rise as one to applaud Aston Villa club captain Stiliyan Petrov, who is fighting leukaemia
19
BENTEKE HEADS WIDE: Aston Villa are having a good spell here. Benteke is next to go close, heading wide from a corner
16
GOOD SPELL FOR THE HOSTS: Bannan tests Szczesny from range after a sustained period of pressure
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
Arsenal need to compose themselves because Aston Villa are building a head of steam.
@sarinafa on Twitter says:
After what looked like a bright start in the first 4 mins, suddenly we look a bit jaded.
14
SZCZESNY SAVES: Bannan fires in a cross-shot to the near post but the Arsenal No 1 is on hand to palm it away for a corner
Top Comments:
@kts_gunner on Twitter says:
Villa keeping the ball and attacking more. We look too defensive at the moment
11
#AVFCvAFC: That's the hashtag to use if you want to have your say on Twitter. As ever we'll publish a selection of your comments right here
10
SZCZESNY IS ALERT: Benteke charges through but Arsenal's goalkeeper races off his line to clear the danger
Top Comments:
@dolsh1 on Twitter says:
Don't like it when it rains. Prevents Arsenal from playing the kind of football we fancy
6
THE OX TRACKS BACK WELL: Agbonlahor threatens to break through but Oxlade-Chamberlain matches him stride for stride and executes a fine sliding tackle
3
THE AWAY END IS PACKED: Arsenal's traveling army of fans are making all the noise at Villa Park. It's been a quiet start
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
You kind of think that if Arsenal can start quickly and impose themselves on Villa -- if they can score early -- they can steamroll here.
Kick Off WE'RE UNDERWAY: Arsenal kick us off at Villa Park
HERE COME THE TEAMS: We're just moments away from kick off at Villa Park
Top Comments:
Stephen Hughes on Arsenal Player says:
I think Villa will try to hit us on the break despite the fact that they are playing at home. I'll go for a tricky Arsenal 3-1 win.
IT'S A BITTERLY COLD NIGHT: We're just over 10 minutes from kick off. The players have completed their pre-match warm-up... and on an evening like this, they really need one!
Top Comments:
Dan Roebuck on Arsenal Player says:
The pitch looks like it has take the rain and is in pretty good shape
CATCH OUR MATCHDAY SHOW: Out MatchDay show is underway. Get all the pre-match news and views with Richard Fleming and guest Stephen Hughes
SUBS: Given, Bowery, Lichaj, Delph, Holman, Albrighton, Ireland
Top Comments:
Stephen Hughes on Arsenal Player says:
Darren Bent has a good record against Arsenal and he's an England international so I'm surprised to see he isn't in the squad.
ASTON VILLA: Guzan, Vlar, Clark, Lowton, Stevens, Westwood, Bannan, El Ahmadi, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Benteke
Top Comments:
Stephen Hughes on Arsenal Player says:
Villa are a Premier League team with some quality players. They are young side full of energy. We might have to be patient today and wait for the goals to come before we get a foothold in the game.
SUBS: Mannone, Sagna, Vermaelen, Wilshere, Coquelin, Arshavin, Gervinho
ARSENAL: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud
Top Comments:
@GoonersClub_AFC on Twitter says:
Giroud on good form at Arsenal. Podolski odds on for me to score again! Best player so far this season for me at #Arsenal
TEAM NEWS: Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs and Aaron Ramsey come in for Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna and Jack Wilshere, who are all on the bench
Top Comments:
@swedegooner on Twitter says:
Good to see Gibbs back. Need real fullbacks to be able to compete with the best. Much better for the balance I'd the team too
E-MAIL OUR COMMENTATORS: Go to www.arsenal.com/studio to get in touch with Dan and Richard - they'll be fielding your comments throughout the game
GET INVOLVED: Join the conversation throughout the game by using the Twitter hashtag #AVFCvAFC We will publish a selection of your comments right here
Kick off is at 5.30pm (UK time), with Dan Roebuck and Richard Clarke as your commentary team
Arsene Wenger and his team will be hoping to win for the third time in the space of a week
Top Comments:
@MikeHallMc on Twitter says:
Big game for the Arsenal chance to use the Tottenham and Montpellier results as a spring board and get on a good run!
Hello and welcome to Arsenal Player for live coverage of Arsenal's trip to Villa Park
Aston Villa
22 GUZAN, Bradley
34 LOWTON, Matthew
04 VLAAR, Ron
30 LICHAJ, Eric (51)
06 CLARK, Ciaran
29 STEVENS, Enda
08 EL AHMADI, Karim
14 HOLMAN, Brett (63)
04 WESTWOOD, Ashley
25 BANNAN, Barry
26 WEIMANN, Andreas
12 ALBRIGHTON, Marc (90)
11 AGBONLAHOR, Gabriel
20 BENTEKE, Christian
01 GIVEN, SHAY
07 IRELAND, STEPHEN
12 ALBRIGHTON, MARC
14 HOLMAN, BRETT
16 DELPH, FABIAN
21 BOWERY, JORDAN
30 LICHAJ, ERIC
Arsenal
01 SZCZESNY, Wojciech
25 JENKINSON, Carl
04 MERTESACKER, Per
06 KOSCIELNY, Laurent
28 GIBBS, Kieran
08 ARTETA, Mikel
16 RAMSEY, Aaron
19 CAZORLA, Santi
15 OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN, Alex
23 ARSHAVIN, Andrey (77)
09 PODOLSKI, Lukas
27 GERVINHO (70)
12 GIROUD, Olivier
22 COQUELIN, Francis (86)
24 MANNONE, VITO
03 SAGNA, BACARY
05 VERMAELEN, THOMAS
10 WILSHERE, JACK
22 COQUELIN, FRANCIS
23 ARSHAVIN, ANDREY
27 GERVINHO,
Top Comments:
@TheKrizzlyBear on Twitter says:
Kinda disappointing.They should have clinched it! On to the next game then!