The chase for a top three position finish in the Premiership often wandered wearily off course here yesterday. A 1-1 draw, secured by Lee Dixon's second goal in four days, restored Arsenal to fourth in the table but the overall performance of Arsene Wenger's team did not suggest a passionate desire to secure a place in next season's Champions League.
Aston Villa seemed to be heading for the victory their greater urgency deserved when Richard Walker, a 22-year-old striker starting his first Premier League game, nodded them in front just past the hour.
While Villa will be disappointed not to have won, the result has extended their unbeaten league run to 10 matches. The clouds of doubt over John Gregory's future as manager have now dispersed. Yesterday Gregory's team began by showing Arsenal too much respect with the defence falling back and leaving one of the best passing sides in the league a generous amount of space in which to demonstrate their craft.
After half-time however, Arsenal were given less time to turn with the ball and found their forward runs blocked. Villa moreover, showed a greater inclination to push men forward.
Yesterday's performance by Arsenal, a sharp contrast to their 5-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna in the UEFA Cup three days earlier, mirrored the pattern of their 3-2 defeat at Coventry on St Stephen's Day, when they did not increase the tempo of their game until late in the match. Dennis Bergkamp, suffering from a knee injury, gave way to Marc Overmars. In midfield, Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit were dominant before half-time but saw their authority eroded by Ian Taylor and Steve Stone. Eventually Petit, having had an altercation with Stone before being booked for a foul on Paul Merson two minutes later, was taken off to spare the Frenchman further punishment.
Since Petit offered a one-fingered gesture to the stands as he walked to the bench such a thought may prove optimistic.
After 15 minutes of the first half Stone caught Vieira in possession and sent Julian Joachim scurrying through but the Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman managed to flick the ball away with one hand.
Seven minutes before half-time Walker set up Joachim with a similar chance but again Seaman was equal to the challenge. Arsenal did present more of a threat once Wenger abandoned using Thierry Henry as a lone striker supported by Bergkamp and Nwanko Kanu.
Kanu joined Henry up front once Overmars came on but by then Villa had found a more impressive attacking momentum. After 63 minutes Merson curled a free kick into a crowded goalmouth and Walker rose above Martin Keown and Emmanuel Petit to head in off the far post.
Arsenal at last roused themselves and saved the game when Dixon gathered Kanu's cleverly-angled pass and drove the ball low past Peter Enckelman.
Aston Villa: Enckelman, Ehiogu, Southgate, Barry, Delaney, Taylor, Stone, Merson, Wright, Joachim, Walker (Hendrie 81). Subs: Not Used: Watson, Bartelt, Samuel, Curtolo. Goal: Walker 62.
Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Grimandi (Luzhny 50), Silvinho, Parlour, Vieira, Petit (Winterburn 73), Henry, Kanu, Bergkamp (Overmars 45). Subs Not Used: Ljungberg, Manninger. Booked: Petit. Goal: Dixon 84.
Referee: G Poll (Tring).
