Aston Villa 1-Arsenal 2: Supersub Yossi Benayoun Gives the Gunners a Vital Win

Yossi Benayoun netted a late winner to give Arsenal three vital points away to Aston Villa. Benayoun's 87th-minute header draws Arsenal temporarily level with fourth-placed Chelsea.

Arsenal endured a tough time at Villa Park, but provided further evidence of their greater strength and resolve this season.

Robin van Persie scored from the spot inside 20 minutes after Theo Walcott had been clumsily felled in the box.

Lethal duo Walcott and van Persie led the line brilliantly for Arsenal in a tightly contested first 45 minutes. The pair very nearly combined for a second moments later.

The second half deteriorated into the kind of scrappy affair Villains boss Alex McLeish loves and the type of tempo and pace that so often frustrates Arsene Wenger's teams.

McLeish's men stayed dour and direct and eventually forced a crucial mistake. Per Mertesacker failed to deal with a long punt forward, and the ball fell kindly for Villa youngster Marc Albrighton.

The clever winger slotted the ball between the legs of Wojciech Szczesny for the equaliser and the 20,000th goal in Premier League history.

Arsenal weathered a reasonable amount of pressure from then on and struggled to make their extra quality count. Ivory Coast forward Gervinho was particularly disappointing.

The former Lille star was sluggish and hesitant for the second game in a row. Sensing the game veering towards a stalemate, Wenger responded.

He brought on Tomas Rosicky for Emmanuel Frimpong and later replaced Gervinho and Aaron Ramsey with Andrey Arshavin and Yossi Benayoun.

The Israeli schemer has impressed in some brief cameos since joining the Gunners, but has so far failed to firmly establish himself in the first team reckoning.

But the veteran has always been a skillful and instinctive attacker with an eye for goal. He pounced in a crowded box to guide home a deft header to win the match.

Hopefully, this pivotal contribution will buy Benayoun more opportunities to showcase his creativity and industry in the Premier League.

After the tough defeat to Manchester City, three away points is the perfect way for Arsenal to show they are back on track.

With top four rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur playing each other tomorrow night and Liverpool dropping points, this could prove to be a hugely significant win for the Gunners.