Theo Walcott skipped down the byline and I still think the shot was a mistake, he could have found the cut back earlier but ran himself out of options, Given saved and the ball fell to the feet of former Tottenham full back Alan Hutton and he smashed the ball into Walcott

What a crazy game at the Emirates Stadium yesterday. I cannot remember the last time we were losing 2-0 at half time and then turned it around. Although winning and then losing appears to stick out much more vividly in the mind.

Perhaps this team needs some pre match hypnosis, someone to convince the players that we are losing the game before we step onto the pitch so we can start with some real urgency.

Our patience sometimes is our undoing in my opinion and the Aston Villa defence coped pretty well during the first 45 minutes as we struggled to create enough goalscoring chances to make one stick.

We left two on one from the corner as we have done a few times this season, Richard Dunne is powerful in the air and we failed to stop him. With Villa being such a threat on the break, it seemed somewhat of a risk for Per Mertesacker to be acting as a center forward at the end of the first half. Villa’s break was of top quality and much of the credit has to go to Agbonlahor his fizzing pass into Stephen Ireland was the pass that made that goal. Bent’s eventual finish from a tight angle was superb. Darren Bent is a Gooner who has a habit of scoring goals against us.

Our response after the break was very good and we showed determination to get back into the game. Our tempo had increased and much of that was down to the midfield. Tomas Rosicky had another good game in the middle of the pitch but the work rate of Aaron Ramsey has been easily overlooked in my opinion. While his use of the ball has been inconsistent this season, either due to the timing of his pass or his occasional inaccuracy but he stepped onto the pitch in the second half with an attitude that I would like to see in more Arsenal players from the first whistle, 

Ramsey chased, tackled, pressured and showed for the ball all the time. He could and perhaps should have scored early in the second half but poked with his right foot instead of swinging with his left. It is amazing that his goal input isn’t better this season given the amount of chances he accumulates over the course of a game.

It was Ramsey’s forward run and Alex Song’s pass that got us back into the game, Richard Dunne was too late on the nibble Ramsey in the box and for once we were given what we deserved, It almost feels like a time to cheer when we are awarded a penalty because it has been a rare sight these days.

Robin as cool as you like rolled it into the left corner, the spot where he had his first of the season saved at Old Trafford, this time Given went the wrong way and it was game on.

That goal was vital and changed the whole mindset of the players, you could see it immediately. They knew and the fans knew that the game was very much alive. Then it went a little crazy and it was a case of attack against defence.

Theo Walcott skipped down the byline and I still think the shot was a mistake, he could have found the cut back earlier but ran himself out of options, Given saved and the ball fell to the feet of former Tottenham full back Alan Hutton and he smashed the ball into Walcott and into the goal. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer person I say.

Laurent Koscielny is fast becoming one of the best all around central defenders and it was his driving run into the penalty box that won us the game. Darren Bent took out Koscielny before taking the ball. I am looking forward to both Koscielny and Vermaelen playing together in the middle, both taking turns to surge forward and join attacks with Song covering their runs.

van Persie struck the penalty in the other corner to complete the turn around.

What I found almost as exciting as the turn around was our late substitutions. Bacary Sagna and Mikel Arteta standing side by side on the touchline. Two seasoned professionals who have a strong will to win. Two players who are vital to this team in both personality and consistency.

Before we played Manchester United I said that we would see the best of us after that game when we start getting our players back. Those two players should start on Wednesday. Kieran Gibbs is back in training today and whisper it but Abou Diaby should return back to training on Tuesday.

Arsene has a big decision to make in midfield with Arteta probably coming back into the side. Tomas Rosicky has been fantastic but I imagine that he will be the one to stand down. I would love to see he and Arteta have a run together in midfield, both players keep the ball very well and make those around them play better but the youthful energy of Aaron Ramsey was very important to our second half comeback yesterday.

Hopefully the team can build on this result and go from strength to strength with our returning players.

Man of the match: Tomas Rosicky