Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 2 - match report and pictures

Paul Lambert's much-criticised team suffered a 2-1 defeat as Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League at the end of a round of matches which has seen three teams lead the division.

But it is the battle in the bottom half of the table which is concerning Villa fans again and looking every bit as congested.

Villa's five-point buffer from the bottom three remains unchanged but their suffering home public, who have still seen only two Villa Park league victories this season, will take heart that something better is stirring after a creditable second half recovery against the Gunners.

The story was all too familiar before the break as Arsenal enjoyed a 71pc-29pc possession count and tucked in a couple of goals to enforce their superiority.

England man Jack Wilshere was the key figure, scoring with aplomb after Mesut Ozil opened Villa's defence and Nacho Monreal supplied the cross.

That was in the 34th minute and just 17 seconds later it was 2-0 as Wilshere caught Fabian Delph in possession and set up Olivier Giroud, who caught both Ron Vlaar and Matt Lowton napping to beat Brad Guzan.

It was a miserable opening 45 minutes compounded by the loss of Nathan Baker after just 15 minutes with a concussion – he took a Serge Gnabry shot full in the face – which forced Lambert to abandon a five-man back-line.

But with barely a kick in the game, Villa were jeered off at the interval but used yet another 'thumbs down' from a disaffected home crowd to knock Arsenal off their stride over the second period.

In the end they were only able to summon one moment of real quality in the 76th minute – but it may have greater significance than proving a solitary goal in defeat.

A magnificent cross from Lowton found its way to the far post where Benteke came roaring in to score with a stooping header.

The goal transformed the mood within the stadium and Benteke, who looked much more like his old self as Villa launched a late but ultimately futile bid to rescue a point.

They will be the crumbs of comfort for Lambert, who saw shots from Ashley Westwood and substitute Leandro Bacuna prove to be their other best efforts in a much-improved second-half display.