“It’s always the darkest before the dawn” – an old adage which is being to have a horrible repetitive nature for Gunners fans as Arsenal’s car crash conclusion to the season hit another bollard.

Few would have given Villa a chance before the clash with their under-performing squad needing just a single point to secure their survival.

Arsenal meanwhile kicked-off knowing three points would haul them just in behind a misfiring Chelsea and set up a last day shoot-out for second behind champions Manchester United.

But 90 minutes later, Villa were safe and wondering what all the fuss was about while Arsenal now turn their eyes to another expensive blue outfit – the chasing Manchester City

1st Half

Arsenal started slowly and could have conceded before Aston Villa hit them hard in the 11th minute with Darren Bent’s eighth for the club. The defence sent the ball out but only as far as Stiliyan Petrov and the Villa man's return pass, high over the Arsenal defence, found Bent unmarked.

The England striker was played onside by Sebastien Squillaci but still had to finish with accuracy, chesting the ball before volleying it into the top corner. Many of the Villa faithful arrived at the Emirates in fancy dress and Arsenal showed their thanks with more comic defending in the 15th minute.

James Collins's low pass sent Ashley Young forward and after Vermaelen slip, the talented winger slipped in Bent who eased passed Squillaci and Bacary Sagna before finishing with ease.

The second stunned the Emirates and the next 15 minutes was played to a disbelieving crowd who didn’t plan on witnessing yet another collapse. But they were roused in the 30th minute when Aaron Ramsey was sent through only to be felled in the area by Richard Dunne. Replays showed Dunne got none of the ball, but at the same time were hardly concrete in favour of the Welshman’s appeals.

That seemed to rouse Arsenal who probed further as half-time drew closer but Van Persie’s rasping shot off the post was the closest they came and they left the field at the break to a chorus of boos.

2nd Half

Arsene Wenger rang the changes at half-time in terms of formation, out went the 4-3-3 and in came 4-4-2 as Song filled the space left by Squillaci’s withdrawl with Marouane Chamakh despite the striker not having scored in the league since November.

But while Arsenal threatened more in the early stages, the urgency needed was not in evidence with yet again too many players thinking about the beach not the pitch. That and the increasingly annoying ‘take one more pass rather than shoot’ approach meant Brad Friedel was not seriously tested. The disappointing Arshavin made way for Nicklas Bendtner in the 62nd minute and seconds later Theo Walcott became another Gunner to mis-fire and waste a good chance.

The agony was turned up another notch 14 minutes from the close as Chamakh thought he had ended the drought but his header was harshly ruled out for a push on Kyle Walker – an incident which saw Bendtner booked for some reason. The Dane was at the heart of everything in the last 10 minutes and his solo barge forward saw the ball find its way to Van Persie who powered it home to set up a last dash scramble but by then it was all too late.

The derision at the end was justified as were the chants of "six per cent, you're having a laugh” – a reference to the controversial increase in season ticket prices. Anymore performances like this and the Emirates faithful may well vote with their feet.

Conclusion

Another day, another defeat to make it a shocking two wins in the last 10 Premier League games for the Gunners, hardly the form of champions. February’s Carling Cup final has left a hangover only akin to a night on the town with the late Oliver Reed and Arsenal have been caught time and time again. Too many players are not playing for the club while one cannot help but think Fabregas, Clichy and maybe even Nasri may have played their last games for the club

But there are others, Arshavin, Song and Eboue who are just not up to scratch and need to be moved on in the summer. The manager’s stubbornness to change has become a feature of life at Arsenal in recent months, one hopes that the boos sunk in today and that tomorrow is indeed brighter

ARSENAL (4-3-3)

Szczesny - 6, Sagna - 5, Vermaelen - 5, Squillaci – 3 (Chamakh - 4), Gibbs - 5, Song - 5, Ramsey – 6 Wilshere - 7, Walcott - 5, Van Persie - 7, Arshavin - 2 (Bendtner - 5)