Aston Villa have moved out of the relegation zone courtesy of a 0-0 draw with Arsenal this evening.
© PA Photos
Christian Benteke provided the hosts with their first decent effort on goal of the match, heading wide when he was left unmarked in the box.
Aaron Ramsey came close to giving the Gunners the lead just before the half-hour mark when clever footwork created space to shoot for the Welshman, but Brad Guzan was equal to the effort.
The visitors should have broken the deadlock one minute before half time when Laurent Koscielny received the ball six yards from goal, but the defender couldn't sort his feet out in time and sent his effort over.
The Gunners started the second half as they ended the first, but again they could not find the target. This time Santi Cazorla was the guilty party as he fired over from the edge of the box.
Gabriel Agbonlahor then forced Wojciech Szczesny into a save with a low effort before Ramsey let fly from 25-yards out, only to see his effort fly inches past the post.
Villa came agonisingly close to grabbing the opening goal with just over 10 minutes left when Brett Holman's stinging shot looked destined to find the net, but Szczesny somehow got his fingertips to it to push it onto the bar.
Arsenal pushed for the winner late on but Villa held out to claim a valuable draw that sees them move out of the relegation zone.
Barney Corkhill
