Villa lose to Arsenal for the first time in five games

Despite Arsenal losing three players to injury in the first 45' and playing for a period with just eight men they score three as Villa are unable to come to terms with the non-standardised ball being used. The ball, far lighter than the norm, proves impossible for a novice user to control, Arsenal however have no such trouble despite their player deficit.

Villa themselves lose Jimmy Gibson to a first half incident and he is incapacitated for the remainder of the game.

As a result Villa suffer their fifth defeat in eight.

Villa make it nineteen wins, six draws and nine defeats in their thirty four division one games so far this season.

Villa concede the first goal for the tenth time in thirteen league games.

Villa suffer the ignominy of having to share third place as they now sit five points behind the leaders once again.

Villa however have two games in hand with League stragglers Manchester City up next.

Villa's games in hand are against Newcastle, the team who has joined them level on points in third place, with both fixtures scheduled to take place within 24 hours of each ofther on the 17th and 18th of April, handing Arsenal a decided advantage in their title challenge.