After some really bad performances and defeats, Arsenal has seemingly come back to good form in their 4-2 away win at Aston Villa today. Andrey Arshavin cut in from the left to fire in a shot and Samir Nasri volleyed home to put the Gunners 2-0 up. Ciaran Clark gave Villa hope with an 18-yard strike but Marouane Chamakh’s poked shot for the visitors appeared to have put Arsenal safe.

But Clark nodded in to set up a tense finale before Jack Wilshere’s late header won it for the visitors. At that point it looked as if Arsenal were in for another devastating result, meaning a draw or even worse. But Wilshere’s injury-time goal came as a relief to Arsenal as they avoided being on the wrong end of another rearguard action. The Gunners, who lost to Braga in midweek, let a two-goal advantage slip last Saturday when they lost 3-2 to Tottenham and, after securing another two-goal lead at Villa, they looked unconvincing as they almost threw it away again.

The win meant that for about 2 hours Arsenal went to the top of the table but Manchester United won 7-1 against poor Blackburn and took the pole position back.