Martin O'Neill's Villa reign got off to a superb start with a battling point at the Emirates Stadium.

And the outstanding Claret and Blue following might have been celebrating all three points as Olof Mellberg made history with the first goal at this magnificent new stadium.

Mellberg's goal was cancelled out six minutes from time, but nothing could detract from a gritty battling display from O'Neill's troops.

Agbonlahor tested Lehmann with a low angled drive inside the second minute. The keeper gathered comfortably.

Sorensen did well to tip Eboue's rising drive over the bar on five. Samuel then produced a goal-line clearance to block Adebayor's header from the subsequent corner.

Ridgewell and Sorensen combined to deny Henry on 13 as the Arsenal skipper raced onto a long ball over the top from Gilberto.

Angel fired high over the bar seven minutes later as Davis and Agbonlahor linked-up to create an opening down the right.

Ridgewell's timely challenge deflected Gilberto's close-range shot wide for a corner on 27.

Barry's left-wing cross caused a moment of panic in the Arsenal defence on 30, before Toure cleared. Angel then fired straight at Lehmann.

Moments later at the other end, Henry fired narrowly wide as he met another long ball. Henry fired over with a speculative drive on 33.

Sorensen easily dealt with a long-range effort from Ljungberg two minutes later. Eboue failed to find the target as he was released by Henry on 39.

Toure slid in to deny Angel on 42 as the Villa striker looked set to latch onto an inch-perfect through ball from Davis.

Ridgewell cleared from the feet of Adebayor in stoppage-time, as the striker slid in to meet a cross from the left.

Ridgewell was on hand again moments after the interval, deflecting a Ljungberg's cross behind as Adebayor pressed.

Moore fired over the bar as he met McCann's through ball on 49. The ball appeared to take a deflection, but referee Poll awarded a goal-kick.

Mellberg stunned the Arsenal faithful as he made history on 53, rising to nod a Davis corner home for the first Premiership goal at the Emirates.

Ridgewell brilliantly denied Adebayor on 59, sliding in to block a close-range shot on the line.

As the hosts threw men forward, Sorensen did well to parry Eboue's thunderous angled drive on 64.

Henry curled a right-foot free-kick narrowly over the bar four minutes later.

Moore almost connected wth an inviting Hughes centre on 72 as Villa countered down the right.

Eboue was somehow denied by a combination of Sorensen and the bar on 76 as Villa fought to hold onto their lead.

Sorensen blocked Hleb's low shot from the edge of the box on 81, moments after Ridgewell produced another timely header to keep the hosts at bay.

Gilberto levelled matters for Arsenal on 84 as SVilla could only half clear Walcott's hanging cross.

Henry dragged a right-foot shot wide from the edge of the box inside stoppage-time.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Fabregas, Toure, Ljungberg, Hleb, Henry, Gilberto, Djourou, Adebayor, Eboue, Hoyte. Subs: van Persie (for Adebayor 65), Flamini (for Hoyte 80), Cygan, Almunia, Walcott (for Ljungberg 73).

Villa Sorensen, Samuel, Mellberg, Barry, McCann, Angel (booked 87), Davis, Agbonlahor, Hughes, Ridgewell, Moore. Subs: Laursen (for Angel 90), Hendrie (for Davis 83 - booked 85), Taylor, Djemba-Djemba (for Moore 89), Philips.