Arsenal go top, Perez late show ends Spurs run

Ray Houghton didn’t hold back in his criticism of Aston Villa after their winless run extended to 11 games in all competitions following their dismantling at the hands of Arsenal on Sunday.

Olivier Giroud scored his seventh goal in his past 10 league outings for a total of nine this campaign when converting for the penalty spot in the eighth minute after Alan Hutton had brought down Theo Walcott in the area.

Arsenal further enhanced their title credentials with a no-fuss 2-0 win over Aston Villa on the weekend.

Arsenal were looking threatening every time they ventured into Villa territory and both Laurent Koscielny and Joel Campbell were only inches away from getting on the end of menacing crosses as the home side’s defence struggled to contain the visitors.

Joleon Lescott, the defender, said: “The points are still there to be won – in order for us to climb out”.

Agbonlahor was omitted from the matchday squad against Arsenal and could be allowed to leave if a sufficient bid arrives next month.

It was not just Giroud who was able to celebrate a landmark achievement.

It was little surprise when they got their reward with a breakaway goal seven minutes before the break that was started and finished by Ramsey.

“The position would be holding midfielder for me, and with Arsenal they are at the top and the amount of injuries they’ve had is not normal”. The German has 13 assists to his name this season and that only from 15 games. Some of the players need more confidence.

Leandro Bacuna ballooned over after goalkeeper Petr Cech flapped at a cross but Arsenal was comfortable and mostly toyed with its hosts. Substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain went close for a third Arsenal goal, but by then Wenger’s men were already home and hosed.

Barcelona beat Arsenal in the Champions League final in Paris in 2006 and have won their two meetings since but the London team’s current form, and Giroud’s goals, have rebuilt their self-belief since their 5-1 thrashing by Bayern Munich on November 4.

Arsenal fans focused on the latter with their unoriginal, if lighthearted, chant. “We spent a lot of energy away in the Champions League on Wednesday, but found the resources to win again here today (Sunday), in another away match. Maybe we were lucky with one or two opportunities for Villa, but overall it was a controlled performance”.

A repeat didn’t seem likely after conceding so early.

“I still believe we are capable of winning the next game”.

“Seeing Cech level the clean sheets record, Wenger knows that he will go past the 169 clean sheets tally”.

” It is mentally good because we had a good week”.

“I know there is a big expectation at home but we were playing the best team now in England”, he said.