Aston Villa-Arsenal: The Shining Knight on Boxing Day

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Former Rushall Olympic FC (Eighth tier of English football) defender Zat Knight was the hero for Aston Villa, as the two time English international hit a last-gasp equaliser to deny Arsenal three points at Villa Park.

The Gunners looked on course to perform a smash-and-grab raid. They weathered an early storm from the home side before taking the lead just before the break, as Denilson netted on 40 minutes, before Abou Diaby doubled their advantage nine minutes after the re-start.  

Martin O'Neill's side were left dumbfounded, having hit the woodwork three times in the opening half through Steve Sidwell, James Milner, and Curtis Davies, while Bacary Sagna produced a brilliant acrobatic clearance off his own line.

Villa reduced the deficit with 25 minutes remaining as Gareth Barry rammed home a penalty. This after William Gallas felled Gabriel Agbonlahor, and before O'Neill and Arsene Wenger were involved in a heated confrontation on the touchline, where referee Lee Mason was forced to intervene to calm the situation down.

With the 90 minutes up and seconds remaining, the ball dropped to Zat Knight, who had pushed up into the Arsenal box, with the centre-back controlling the ball before lashing a left-foot shot beyond Manuel Almunia.

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Arsene Wenger insisted Arsenal remain in the title race despite allowing a 2-0 lead to slip through their grasp against Aston Villa.

When asked if the latest dropped points marked the end of the Gunners' title challenge, Wenger said: "No, we keep going."

"It was a committed game," Wenger said. "They could have scored in the first half. I feel in the second half they were never really dangerous and yet we conceded two goals in the half where we were never really troubled."

Wenger admitted it was a frustrating time to concede the equaliser.

"Yes, because I feel we were 99 percent there," he said.

However, he bizarrely claimed Arsenal were not caught out, and had "too many" players back in defence.

"We had too many back," he said. "We were not outnumbered, it was a throw-in for them."

Wenger also dismissed questions about an apparent bust-up with Villa boss Martin O'Neill on the touchline, which was eventually settled by referee Lee Mason.

"Nothing happened," he said.

(quotes: www.skysports.com)