Aston Villa 2 Arsenal 2:Aston Villa's fight for Champions League qualification was given a significant boost as Zat Knight rifled home an injury-time equaliser to rescue a well-deserved point against Arsenal.
Martin O'Neill's side had battered the Londoners throughout the first half but somehow found themselves two goals down only to mount a superb fightback.
Goals either side of half-time by Denilson and Abou Diaby for Arsenal were not a fair reflection of the game and, after Gareth Barry's penalty pulled a goal back, Knight smashed home a stoppage-time leveller to maintain Villa's three-point lead over the Gunners.
With captain Martin Laursen missing Gareth Barry was made skipper for Villa.
Arsene Wenger was without captain Cesc Fabregas through injury and striker Emmanuel Adebayor due to suspension. His injury problems worsened when Johan Djourou had to be replaced at late notice by Kolo Toure, having seemingly suffered a problem in the warm-up.
Villa started well and nearly secured a sixth-minute lead when Steve Sidwell ran intelligently to send a header from Barry's corner crashing against the woodwork.
After 14 minutes England striker Gabriel Agbonlahor won a free kick to the right of the penalty area and, though James Milner's shot was blocked after the set-piece was taken short, Luke Young's subsequent effort from distance had to be tipped over spectacularly by stand-in captain Manuel Almunia.
Villa again spurned a brilliant chance in the 20th minute. Agbonlahor produced a burst of pace to go beyond William Gallas but saw his bending effort saved by Almunia and, as Sidwell ghosted in to convert the rebound, Gallas recovered to deflect his shot wide.
Somehow Arsenal hit them with a sucker punch in the 39th minute. Denilson collected the ball near the halfway line and burst forward. When his pass to Emmanuel Eboue broke loose inside the box, the Brazilian kept sprinting forward and reached it first to fire home an unlikely opener.
It was 2-0 barely three minutes into the second half as Diaby combined with Eboue before rifling home past Brad Friedel.
Villa got a lifeline in the 64th minute when referee Lee Mason awarded a penalty. Milner released Agbonlahor down the right with a simple ball and when Gallas made a clumsy challenge, the England striker went down.
Stand-in captain Barry stepped up to send Almunia the wrong way.
On the touchline, meanwhile, O'Neill and Wenger exchanged angry words and were spoken to by Mason.
The game was becoming scrappy as Villa looked to claw themselves level.
Their hopes of an equaliser looked slim but were boosted by the awarding of four minutes of added time and their prayers were soon answered.
Barry attempted to control a cross into the box and when the ball landed in the path of stand-in defender Knight, the centre half smashed home a late equaliser.
