I’ll limit it to just the one text message this time, and one received some time after the final whistle – from Pete Mountford: ‘I’ve never trusted an Arsenal team less’.

2-0 up and coasting at half-time. Sound familiar. Martin Tyler reminded us that the last time Villa beat Arsenal at Villa Park, it was also 2-0 to the Gunners at half time. I assume he was referring to the 1998-99 season when a parachuting santa aiming for the pitch managed to collide with the roof of a stand, broke his leg and delayed the restart by a few minutes. Arsenal lost their focus and Dion Dublin scored at least two of their three goals to win the game 3-2.

Eleven years ago, it took a costumed parachutist to ultimately wreck Arsenal’s title ambitions. These days, they simply don’t need that kind of help. However, in fairness, they got the result. Twice they gave Villa the chance to get back in the game, at 2-1 and 3-2, but Gerard Houllier’s side were not quite good enough to seize the opportunity.

Great going forward, although their dominance in the first half was so great, they could have been five or six up had their finishing been better, but so questionable in defence. If they could score four every time, then the defensive lapses could be quietly forgotten about, but you just know that the next time they do not hit a hatful of goals, then there is every chance they will drop points again.

Strange to think that the team went top of the table and everyone isn’t ecstatic, but it’s because we know we are watching a house of cards. It’s a rollercoaster ride, full or peaks and troughs, but at some stage the wheels will fall off once and for all. Villa’s first goal did not make pretty viewing, as Arsenal players stood off and allowed young Ciaran Clark the time to place his shot. Gael Clichy backed off and Tomas Rosicky simply stood and watched. Both could have prevented the shot. The second was a set piece in which Villa won two headers.

I stand accused of being obsessed about the defending, even in a decent away victory, but given the last few weeks, I am sure I am not alone. Praise where it is due though. Arsenal played better than Villa and deserved their win, even if the final 20 minutes was not good for the blood pressure. Arsenal have three matches to get their defending together before they go to Old Trafford. And the third of those could see them eliminated from the Champions League if they have a bad night at the back.

Finally a word for Robert Pires. His first start in the Premier League since another particular match that finished 4-2 to the Gunners, which also happened to be the final one witnessed at the old Highbury stadium. After four years in Spain he is back, however, although he would grace an experienced side, he can’t carry youngsters. Villa simply were not of sufficient quality to get the best from him, the tidy incisive passing that creates chances. He will play with the side until the end of the season, and Villa will get some injured players back. By the time Pires returns to play at Arsenal’s stadium in May, hopefully he will be able to remind us of what made him special more than he was able to yesterday. When I saw Villa were making a substitution at the start of the second half, it was no surprise to learn Superbob was the one making way.

Arsenal went top until Manchester United walloped Blackburn. Will they top the table again this season? I think United have had their dodgy spell and will now pull away from everyone but their only credible challengers, Chelsea. Arsenal will enjoy enough results like that against Villa to finish in a Champions League spot once again, and they will play some delightful football as they did yesterday. However, the goals against column will total a good number more than the 28 the manager has stated is the maximum a title winning side can afford. So far 17 have been conceded in 15 matches. Maybe something dramatic will happen in the January transfer window to strengthen the team as a defensive unit. Maybe pigs might fly…