DAVID O'LEARY'S long-awaited return to the Arsenal starting line-up ended in grief last night at Villa Park.

Named as one of three central defenders in manager George Graham's re-shaped side, O'Leary conceded the penalty which lifted Aston Villa into third place in the League.

There were few arguments from Arsenal when the Dubliner's lunging tackle on Dwight Yorke in first half injury time was penalised but the Villa crew had to debate who would take the kick.

Villa had not scored from the spot in 16 months and Irish midfielder Ray Houghton, their regular penalty-taker, turned down the honour.

As scorer Dean Saunders explained: "Ray brushed past me and said 'I don't fancy it.' I didn't fancy it either, but I took the job on and hit it low and hard and it went in."

It was Saunders' first League goal since November 1st and he added: "You always worry a bit if you're not scoring, but you have these sort of runs in most seasons. You just have to get your head down and keep working."

Driven close to the point of despair by his failure to earn a regular first team place this season. football's cruel fate put O'Leary in the path of live wire Yorke after an incisive pass from Steve Staunton and the striker's pace had sliced open the Arsenal defence.

There was little O'Leary could do as Yorke went catapulting over his challenge. Cold comfort to O'Leary that Villa should have won this game by far more than a penalty.

Saunders could have had a hat-trick, but was twice denied by fine saves from David Seaman as Villa returned to form after Saturday's bashing by Coventry.

The goalkeeper advanced quickly from his line to block with his chest when Saunders went clean through.

Then, in another one-on-one with the £2.3-million striker, Seaman threw up his right arm to keep out another goal-bound effort.

Seamen also denied Ray Houghton on two occasions and kept out other attempts from Yorke and Earl Barrett.

Arsenal did not deliver a real threat until the dying minutes when substitutes Mark Flatts and Anders Limpar flashed efforts just wide.

And in injury time, lan Wright demanded an acrobatic save from Nigel Spink, Arsenal have now gone seven League games without a win.