Image source, AP

Nacho Monreal has not shaken off that Ron Vlaar block, and he is off to be replaced by Kieran Gibbs. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also warming up for the Gunners.

Robbie Savage
BBC Radio 5 live at Villa Park

"It has not been good enough by Aston Villa tonight. Lacklustre, boring, describe it whichever way you want."

You can listen to live audio commentary from Villa Park on BBC Radio 5 live.

Aston Villa season ticket holders have had a raw deal this campaign really. They've seen their side score just seven goals at home, and an eighth doesn't look like arriving this evening.

As I say that, Ashley Westwood has a cracking effort from 25 yards which forces Wojciech Szczesny into a save.

There may be a fair bit of doom and gloom in the Villa Park air, but let's not forget that Aston Villa are still 11th - they are hardly in a proper relegation dogfight. Not yet, anyway.

Arsenal have found their range again now though, popping a lovely move around which ends with Santi Cazorla testing Brad Guzan from 20 yards.

Robbie Savage
BBC Radio 5 live at Villa Park

"Ron Vlaar, in a poor Villa performance, has led by example tonight. That was a fantastic tackle to stop Monreal - fair, hard and perfectly-timed."

You can listen to live audio commentary from Villa Park on BBC Radio 5 live.

Arsenal suddenly put together a passing move of real quality, marvellous one-touch stuff as Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere cut the Villa midfield to ribbons, left-back Nacho Monreal then cuts into the penalty area and looks like lashing in number three until Ron Vlaar slides in and makes a cracking tackle.

A bone cruncher - but perfectly fair. Monreal goes down and stays down after that one.

Anywayrantover:, external People were wrong to claim Benteke was world class after one season, but equally wrong to write him off after half of one.

Rico:, external Benteke, Papiss Cisse, Jelavic... what happens to these types of player? Do they get found out too quickly or lose form easily?

Aston Villa have been much improved since the break. They may not be hurting Arsenal but at least they are competing now, there's some real purpose and pressure to their game. Where was this in the first half?

Sam in Cardiff: You've got to ask what has Paul Lambert got up his sleeve to get Villa out of this slump. Other teams in trouble have injuries, sell their best players or are newly promoted. Aston Villa don't look like an established Premier League side.

Leandro Bacuna's free-kick is tame though, right into the wall. Villa recycle the ball out wide and when the cross comes in Laurent Koscielny has his arms around Christian Benteke, the Holte End want a penalty but referee Neil Swarbrick is having none of it...

Gabby Agbonlahor is thrown to the ground by Jack Wilshere to win a free-kick as Villa's improvement continues. If they can score the next goal, and if they can score it soon, then you never know...

Better from the home side as Fabian Delph sprays a nice pass out wide, and it comes back to Leandro Bacuna, who skids a low shot into the arms of Wojciech Szczesny. Comfortable save for the Pole but much more intent from Villa, who have pushed Bacuna into an attacking role for this second half.

Image source, PA

Villa come out swinging as they win a corner in the opening few seconds of the second half.

What level on the 'hairdryer scale' do we reckon Paul Lambert's half-time team talk was registering at? I've seen him tear a few strips off the press in his time. I wouldn't like to see a 10...

Arsenal get us back under way.

As the players return to the field, a reminder for Arsenal fans that the Gunners will return to the top of the table if they can see this win out.

Villa have Andreas Weimann and Marc Albrighton available on the bench, will Paul Lambert turn to one or both of them at the break? He needs to pull a large rabbit from the hat somehow.

Brian, Birmingham: Re: Villa looking a Championship side [see 20:43], as a Villa fan, I'm not chuffed with the comparison either. It's just hard to argue!

Marcus,Torquay: Championship? Villa look like a pub side. And unfortunately I mean the quiz team, not the football one

John Dunstan:, external Villa players spending a lot of time on the ground tonight. Must be tired after that great performance against Sheffield Utd.

Sham Gallagher:, external Arsenal's formidable form carries on here. A very good half for Arsenal defensively and attacking, they have done very well.

Dan Barton:, external Benteke is not even close to the player he was a year ago, I think a move in the January window would be good for both him and Villa.

Image source, opta

It's been almost painful to watch Christian Benteke during that first half. He looks totally shot of confidence, he can't control it, win a header, chase down the defence, nothing. He didn't touch the ball inside the Arsenal box at all, as this touch map shows, and certainly didn't look like scoring from outside the box.

Paul: Someone said earlier Zabaleta should have been in team of the year. Why? Not even best in league. That's Seamus Coleman. And come on Arsenal and well done Cristiano.