Arsenal draw 0-0 with Aston Villa
Title-chasing Arsenal maintained their long unbeaten streak at Villa Park but the woodwork twice denied them victory over Martin O'Neill's side.Cruelly, it was a Holte End post and the crossbar in front of Villa Park's North Stand that stood between the Londoners and a vital victory.
Remember this was the first of four matches in 15 days which may well determine the outcome of Arsenal's pursuit of the Premier League crown.They wanted to get off to a flier but instead they nosedived.And it could prove costly.Manchester United are next, quickly followed by top-of-the-table Chelsea and then Liverpool.It is the acid test and they have been burned already.
Arsenal's best chance came just before halftime at Villa Park when captain Cesc Fabregas hit the post when Brad Friedel was beaten.
The bar also denied Arsenal in the second half when Andrei Arshavin's shot was parried by Friedel and Tomas Rosicky's shot came off the underside of the woodwork but did not cross the line.It was a damaging night on two fronts - not just two points dropped but two players lost into the bargain.
For the Gunners left the Midlands fearing key defender Thomas Vermaelen had broken his leg and with striker Eduardo sidelined by a hamstring injury.Eduardo is already ruled out of Sunday's home clash with United, Vermaelen's injury will be assessed today.With or without him, Arsenal will need to be far better than this to avoid a damaging run of setbacks.The Londoners were never at their super slick best but they will look back at two key moments of this game and curse.
Should Wenger trust Campbell's 35-year-old legs with the task at hand, the likes of Rooney, who has five goals in two games, and Chelsea's powerhouse marksman Didier Drogba await.
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