Aston Villa winger Marc Albrighton scored the 20,000th
goal in the Premier League but a late header from Arsenal
substitute Yossi Benayoun earned his side a 2-1 victory
at Villa Park.
• Wenger: We were fortunate
Albrighton's milestone effort came nine minutes into
the second half after a mistake by Gunners defender
Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie had equalled Thierry
Henry's club record of 34 for the most Premier League
goals in a calendar year before Benayoun's 87th minute
decider.
Villa defender Alan Hutton was sent off in injury-time
for two bookable offences.
Villa have donated the 20,000 cheque from Barclays
for the 20,000th goal to their official charity partner,
the Acorns children's hospice.
The result was harsh for Alex McLeish's side, who produced
their best home performance of the campaign, with Charles
N'Zogbia having one of his more influential games.
But their inability to defend set pieces proved costly
as Benayoun headed in a corner from Van Persie as Arsenal
moved level on points with fifth placed Chelsea.
The home side were the first to threaten and it needed
a fine save from Wojciech Szczesny to prevent Gabriel
Agbonlahor giving them a sixth-minute lead.
N'Zogbia floated the ball in the Gunners box after
a one-two with Marc Albrighton and Agbonlahor's header
from close range was parried by Szczesny.
Villa looked more aggressive and committed than against
Liverpool at the weekend
N'Zogbia was looking lively and got the better of Francis
Coquelin before delivering a cross to the near post.
Agbonlahor was first to react but Aaron Ramsey got
in an important block.
It was against the run of play when Van Persie put
Arsenal ahead.
Clark tugged at the short of Theo Walcott inside the
box and referee Jonathan Moss pointed to the penalty
spot.
Up stepped Van Persie to hammer the spot kick into
the roof of the net.
Walcott could have made it 2-0 after running onto Van
Persie's pass.
But Brad Guzan was alert and raced out of his box to
block the shot with his chest.
N'Zogbia was having one of his best games for Villa
and he nutmegged Coquelin before sending him a teasing
cross which eluded everyone.
Coquelin became the first player to be yellow carded
after 28 minutes for a mis-timed challenge on N'Zogbia.
Ramsay should have done better in an Arsenal counter-attack
when he shot well wide after a Van Persie flick on.
Clark was booked after 38 minutes for a foul on Mikel
Arteta and then Per Mertesacker was yellow carded for
checking the run of N'Zogbia.
Villa continued to do most of the pressing at the start
of the second period.
Szczesny was forced into a hurried clearance under
pressure from Albrighton.
When Arsenal counter-attacked Per Mertesacker failed
to make proper contact on his shot from a Walcott cross.
But after 54 minutes a mistake by Vermaelen allowed
Albrighton to score the 20,000th goal since the Premier
League began nearly 20 years ago.
The Villa winger kept his cool before sliding the ball
wide of Szczesny.
Arsenal retaliated instantly and Guzan produced a superb
save to deny Mertesacker in a counter-attack.
They forced a string of corners in quick succession
but Villa held firm.
Van Persie was booked after 78 minutes for diving in
the Villa box.
Dunne produced another vital interception to block
a shot from Rosicky and substitute Andrey Arshavin had
a shot deflected over the bar.
But then Benayoun broke Villa's hearts as he was left
with a free header inside the box from Van Persie's
corner.
Hutton was booked for a foul on Van Persie and then
sent off in injury-time for a second yellow card offence
on Vermaelen.
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