Villa were denied a battling victory as former Birmingham striker Nicklas Bendtner salvages a last gasp point for the Gunners.

Leading through Philippe Senderos' first-half own-goal, Villa had weathered a second-half storm from Arsenal.

But Martin O'Neill's men were denied by a late, late leveller.

Gallas headed over the bar from a Fabregas free-kick on three.

Carson then brilliantly denied Walcott with a save low to his right four minutes later.

Agbonlahor was denied by a timely challenge from Gallas on 13 as he raced onto a Carew through ball.

Maloney fired high and wide as he met a low centre from Agbonlahor on 19.

Senderos fired over the bar from 12 yards on 23 as Carson could only half clear a corner from the left.

Gardner's angled drive was blocked by Gallas four minutes later.

Villa had the lead on 28 as Agbonlahor crossed from the left and Senderos directed the near-post ball past his own keeper.

Villa were forced into a change just after the half-hour mark as Knight replaced the injured Reo-Coker.

Another enforced change saw Osbourne replace the injured Davies on 40.

Maloney might have doubled Villa''s lead on 44, but Almunia pushed his rising drove onto the angle of post and bar.

Fabregas fired over from the edge of the box in stoppage time after a surging run from Walcott down the right.

Carson did well to palm a Walcott effort past the post seconds after the restart.

Hleb dragged a low left-foot effort wide from the edge of the box on 49.

Young went down under pressure from Adebayor on 52, but penalty appeals were waved away by referee Mark Clattenburg.

Almunia palmed a low Young drive past the upright on 54 as Villa broke in numbers.

Flamini fired wide from the edge of the box a minute later. Clichy then drove straight at Carson.

Villa broke on 64, but Agbonlahor's low drive was blocked by Almunia.

Seconds later Carson denied Hleb with an impressive save low to his right.

Gardner fired over with an angled free-kick on 75 after Harewood was felled on the edge of the box. Almunia denied substitute Harewood a minute later.

Adebayor headed over the bar from close range as Arsenal pressed for an equaliser.

With Villa looking set to secure a first win against Arsenal since 1998 Bendtner levelled deep into stoppage-time.

Arsenal: Almunia, Diaby, Sagna, Fabregas, Senderos, Gallas Booked 30), Hleb, Flamini, Clichy, Adebayor, Walcott. Subs: Lehmann, Denilson (for Senderos 78), Gilberto (for Flamini 78), Bendtner (for Diaby 59), Hoyte.

VILLA: Carson, Bouma, Gardner, Laursen, Davies, Young, Reo-Coker, Barry (booked 80), Maloney, Agbonlahor, Carew. Subs: Harewood (for Maloney 71), Taylor, Knight (for Reo-Coker 32), Salifou, Osbourne (for Davies 40 - booked 90).

Click here to launch our Matchday Live console.