Arsenal missed the chance to draw level on points with third-place Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Wolves at the Emirates Stadium. The result left Arsenal in fifth place, two points behind its north London rivals ahead of Spurs' match at Norwich later Tuesday, and 12 points behind top two, Manchester City and Manchester United. Gervinho gave Arsenal an eighth-minute lead when, following a superb through ball from Israeli playmaker Yossi Benayoun, the forward rounded Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey. But Wolves, now two points above the relegation zone, were level shortly before half-time when a corner came out to Stephen Hunt, whose shot took a deflection before Steven Fletcher reacted quickly to head in an equalizer. In a niggly sceond half, Arsenal had a penalty appeal for handball by Christophe Berra turned down. Then, with 15 minutes left, Wolves were a man down when Nenad Milijas was sent off by referee Stuart Atwell for diving in on Mikel Arteta. Arsenal pressed for a winner, with Robin van Persie twice denied by Hennessey before the Welshman saved well from Thomas Vermaelen as Wolves held out. “It is very frustrating,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. “You won't play many draws like that in a season but sometimes it can happen.” Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was delighted by a result that left his side two points above the relegation zone. “I'm extremely proud,” he said. “I think everyone has seen a real fighting performance from us today. We have had to defend and we did that for 20 minutes with 10 men. “ Elsewhere, promoted clubs Swansea and QPR shared the points in a 1-1 draw. Welsh side Swansea took a 14th-minute lead through striker Danny Graham but QPR levelled at the Liberty Stadium shortly before the hour mark. Rangers keeper Paddy Kenny's goal-kick was headed backward by Swansea midfielder Leon Britton and that gave QPR forward Jamie Mackie the chance to shoot between Michel Vorm's legs. Stoke came closest to winning a dour 0-0 draw against Aston Villa as Marc Wilson hit the bar in the second half at the Britannia Stadium Monday. Tony Pulis' side made most of the few chances on offer in a match distinctly short of festive cheers and it was defender Wilson who almost snatched the points when his header cannoned off the bar and nearly crossed the line before Gabriel Agbonlahor alertly chested the ball to safety. With Stoke striker Peter Crouch and Villa forward Darren Bent unable to make their returns from illness and injury respectively, both sides lacked attacking quality. There was more injury woe for Villa as striker Emile Heskey was forced off with a recurrence of his Achilles problem. Yet defeat would have been harsh on Villa, who belied its recent frailties from set-pieces by defiantly standing up to a Stoke side renowned for its aerial prowess. Villa remains 12th in the Premier League table, five points behind Stoke in eighth.
