ARSENAL turned trauma into triumph at Villa Park yesterday as George Graham's beleaguered side responded to the jailing of captain Tony Adams by creating a piece of club history.

The goalless draw stretched Arsenal's unbeaten start to their league campaign to 18 matches - their best ever opening to a season.

But once again, fortune was not on their side with a strong penalty claim overlooked by referee Neil Midgley, of Bolton, and a series of chances squandered.

The penalty appeal came after 66 minutes when Villa defender Andy Comyn seemed to bring down Perry Groves in the area.

All eyes immediately turned to Midgley who waved play-on and remained unmoved by Groves', vehement protests.

Graham said afterwards: "My first reaction was that it was a penalty. I haven't seen it again on television but looking at it in normal play I feel it was a penalty."

He was still delighted with the positive way his side reacted in the wake of last week's jailing of captain Tony Adams.

"I'm so pleased with the way we bounced back. We keep on bouncing back after our problems off the pitch." said Graham.

It was never a classic encounter but most of the telling football came from Arsenal who had £1.2 million defender Andy Linighan finally given his chance in place of the absent Adams serving four months in prison for drink-driving.

The tall, former Norwich centre half, grew in confidence throughout the game and dealt ably with the twin aerial threat of the towering lan Ormondroyd and Tony Cascarino.

Arsenal's best chances fell to striker Alan Smith who could conceivably have been celebrating early for Christmas with a hat-trick. In the 17th minute he cut into the Villa area to face Nigel Spink but shot into the side netting. A minute after half-time Smith again escaped his markers but sent a powerful, diving header wide from eight yards.

But three minutes from time it needed a superbly brave save from David Seaman to deny Villa victory. Adams, whose parents were at the match, would have been proud of his England colleague as he came out to plunge at David Platt's feet and block his shot.