CHRIS PRICE kept the championship pressure on Liverpool last night after Aston Villa goalkeeper Nigel Spink had slammed the door shut on Arsenal's title defence.

Full-back Price stunned the Gunners five minutes from the end of the televised Highbury clash with his first goal since joining Villa from Blackburn for £150,000 nearly two years ago.

And Arsenal, who desperately needed to win to retain any slender hope of keeping their crown, were left counting missed chances and cursing the form of Spink.

He denied Alan Smith, Kevin Campbell. Tony Adams, Lee Dixon and Martin Hayes to keep alive Villa's hopes.

And when Price popped up to score after 85 minutes it meant the gap between Villa and leaders Liverpool, who had thrashed Charlton 4-0, stayed at three points.

Liverpool go to Highbury next Wednesday in another TV encounter and Villa manager Graham Taylor said: "We've just got to keep up the pressure and hope that Liverpool drop some points."

Taylor had reverted to a five man defence, giving 20- year-old Andy Comyn only his third senior game alongside Paul McGrath and Kent Nielsen.

And Arsenal, with Dixon switched to midfield in place of 'flu victim Kevin Richardson, made all the running.

They would have opened up a comfortable gap, but for Spink's acrobatics, but they began to live dangerously in the second half as they became more and more committed to their goal search.

England's David Platt nearly caught them out after 56 minutes with a solo counter charge that ended with his shot deflected over the angle off Adams.

Price later saw a header land on top of the net but he kept his cool when Tony Cascarino played the pass between Adams and Winterburn, firing past John Lukic from 10 yards.