By Ryan Ghee
December 31 2005

Aston Villa and Arsenal ended the year with a point apiece as the two sides fought out a goalless draw at Villa Park. Before the match, Villa would surely have been content with a point against the Gunners but considering the Villa performance, they were unlucky not to end 2005 with a victory. Both sides had chances to win the match with Baros and Flamini wasting chances for their respectives teams, but neither side could find a break-through as Villa made it five points from their last three games of 2005.

In the opening exchanges, it was the visitors who had the majority of the possession but, as they failed to create a telling chance, Aston Villa found their way back into the match.

James Milner had the first real chance of the game as his quickly taken free-kick flew wide of Jens Lehmann's post and minutes later, Lauren almost deflected Milner's right-wing delivery into his own net.

Mid-way through the first half, Aston Villa's Luke Moore appeared to be kicked in the chest by Kolo Toure as he tried to create a goalscoring opportunity but the penalty appeals fell on deaf ears as Urriah Rennie waved for play to continue.

Gareth Barry came close to breaking the deadlock just minutes later but his wicked right foot drive was pushed out by Lehmann before the ball was diverted to safety.

Seven minutes before half time, Mathieu Flamini had a golden opportunity to open the scoring. Hleb played a clever ball through to the French youngster but with just Sorensen to beat, he drilled hs effort over the bar.

Milan Baros continued to look lively upfront for Villa but time after time, the Czech international was caught by the flag as Arsenal's defence, commanded by Sol Campbell, held a high line and ensured that the match remained goalless at the break.

Villa started the second half with the same level of attacking intent and with 53 minutes on the clock, Milan Baros should have given Villa what would have been a deserved lead.

Luke Moore played the ball through to Baros who, having beaten the offside trap, raced through on goal with only Jens Lehmann to beat. However, the striker looked up for support and when it failed to arrive, he rushed his shot and hit it high into the Holte End.

Two minutes later, Freddie Ljungberg made his first real contribution to the match as he skipped past Aaron Hughes before unleashing a powerful left foot drive from 20-yards out, only to be denied by the crossbar.

With the game opening up, Eirik Bakke could have scored his first goal for the Villans but his volley from a James Milner corner never looked like troubling the Arsenal goalkeeper as it sailed high and wide of the goal.

With just four minutes remaining, substitute Juan Pablo had the chance to be a hero as he met Gareth Barry's pin-point delivery. However, the Columbian international failed to control his 8-yard header and it flew harmlessly over the Arsenal goal.

As injury time approached, Arsenal came within inches of breaking Villa hearts as Kolo Toure somehow missed the target from only three yard out. Sol Campbell nodded down Arsenal's only corner of the game to Toure who, unmarked and inside the Villa six-yard box, snatched at the shot and stabbed it wide of Sorensen's post.

So, after a tricky year at Villa Park, and the worst start to a Premiership campaign since the league materialised, David O'Leary's men have ended the year on what must be seen as a high note. With West Brom Villa's next opponents, the team has the perfect opportunity to continue this good run of form. A victory in a local derby would surely set up the new year very nicely indeed.