ASTON VILLA delivered a severe jolt Arsenal's growing ambitions as Pretenders to Liverpool's title after the champions had underlined their intentions with a 1-0 morning victory over Manchester United.

Alan Mclnally shook the Highbury faithful by firing the Midlanders into a 27th-minute lead and they were still on top when four goals graced a 13-minute spell in the second half.

Mclnally struck again two minutes into the second half but Brian Marwood eased Arsenal's worries momentarily six minutes later, Alan Smith, hat-trick hero of Arsenal's 5-1 at Wimbledon levelled the scores before Andy Gray rattled home the winner via a post on the hour.

It was a tactical triumph for Villa manager Graham Taylor, who confronted the Gunners with a sweeper system—and he gave his players less than 24 hours notice of his plans.

"It wasn't until Friday afternoon that I told them the way we were going to play;' he said.

"Perhaps it was the best way to do it, rather than give too much time to think about it. We worked at it for about an hour and the result was tremendous."

Taylor added: "We were playing a very confident Arsenal and I didn't think we could go out there with a 4-4-2; we weren't strong enough for that. We had to be well organised, try not to concede space and make it difficult for them.

"We have an inexperienced First Division side and I have to protect that situation. As long as they keep applying themselves like that, they'll get my support."

Taylor enthused:

"On the games so far, I've seen enough to say the spirit has radically changed over 12 months."

Taylor refused to become involved in the debate over Villa's winning goal. Arsenal were upset when referee Denis Hedges awarded a free kick on the edge of the area.

The Gunners had retrieved a two goal deficit, but manager George Graham said:"When you get a controversial decision like that against you, it's very hard to climb another mountain."

Graham blamed his defence for the first two goals and said: "I hate losing, but this might bring the lads back down to earth again."

Referee Hedges did not have the best of games—and he caused a furore when he tried to get Villa to kick off the second half as well as the first. He was eventually persuaded that it was Arsenal's turn and Graham said: "The referee was consistent. And the start of the second half summed it up."