ANDY TOWNSEND, returning to Aston Villa's midfield after a six match suspension, was dismissed for the second time in successive games as manager Brian Little was left waiting for his first victory.

Villa remain in the relegation zone after a drab, featureless game at Highbury which highlighted both teams' deficiencies in attack.

Townsend was sent off at Wimbledon six weeks ago in his last game.

He was subsequently banished for three matches for accumulating 21 points and a further three for the red card, issued for violent conduct.

Yesterday's sending-off for two bookable offences, means the Republic of Ireland skipper will miss two more games.

But both managers were united in sympathy for Townsend. Arsenal boss George Graham, with his own problems mounting, said: “Townsend didn't seem to deserve being sent off because there were a lot worse tackles in the game than his. I thought the referee put himself under pressure by booking players early on."

Villa counterpart Brian Little admitted: "Andy is very disappointed, but such are the laws of the game now that even I would be getting booked and anybody can tell you that was never the case for me when I was a player."

Little said he "feared for anybody putting a foot wrong" after the early bookings.

And he added: "It is a disappointment for me because I felt we could come up and win the game here, but your mentality changes when a guy is sent off and there is still half an hour to go."

While Townsend bemoans his misfortune. Little must reflect on a miserable start to life as manager at Villa Park.

Since replacing Ron Atkinson, he has seen Villa lose twice and draw four times. Moreover, a manager who had five players dismissed when at Leicester, has now had a further two shown red cards (Ugo Ehlogu was sent off last month).

Referee Kelvin Morton set out his stall with three cautions in the opening 12 minutes, including one for Townsend after he fouled Lee Dixon.

Arsenal, again missing the suspended lan Wright, stuttered and stumbled their way through 90 minutes of boredom and have now gone two months without a home league win.

The Gunners left the field to slow handclapping, boos, and cries of "what a load of rubbish" and they could have no complaints about the fans' reaction.

Graham's side have scored only one goal in their last four home league games since beating Coventry in October. "If you are not winning at home, the players lose confidence and the fans criticise," the Gunners boss accepted.

After Villa's Irish duo Ray Houghton and Townsend had been cautioned. along with Arsenal's Steve Bould, the game teetered on the brink of apathy.

Arsenal, who gave a debut in midfield to teenager Stephen Hughes, rarely presented their forwards with the chance to end their dismal run, even though Kevin Campbell was denied by Nigel Spink in the first half.

Villa have won once in 15 league games when caretaker-boss Jim Barron was in charge but they had the chance to steal victory when Earl Barrett's 54th minute clearance sent John Fashanu through.

Fashanu should have scored but stand-in goalkeeper Vince Bartram, criticised severely by Graham for his performance in the recent defeat by Leeds, narrowed the angle quickly and the ball struck his legs.

Villa's problems were extended when Townsend mistimed a challenge on Paul Dickov, in the 60th minute, and left the field early.