Cazorla opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but Villa came back strongly and equalized through Andreas Weimann after the break.

Arsenal threw everything at Villa keeper Brad Guzan, but the Gunners could not find a way past until Cazorla found the net with five minutes remaining — saving his manager from another ear-bashing from the supporters who have started to doubt whether the Frenchman is the right man to lead the club forward.

Many had questioned whether Wenger had lost the plot this week with a bizarre news conference rant sandwiched in between two disappointing defeats to Blackburn and Bayern Munich.

Some of those doubters will not have been convinced by this performance. Wenger’s men were often sloppy in possession, looked edgy at the back, and their propensity to want to walk the ball in to the net caused a huge amount of frustration among the home crowd at a sparsely populated Emirates Stadium.

After the match, Wenger took aim at his critics once more. When asked whether these had been “dreadful times”, Wenger replied: “Of course. But you do your job and focus on the next game. That’s what I did.

“I’m not 30 years in this job at the top level to be destroyed by people saying I don’t know what I’m doing. (If I was) I would have stopped this job a long time ago. But we have responsibilities and have to stand up and get the team ready to fight.”

Whatever criticisms are aimed at Wenger — whether it be his match tactics or his transfer policy — there is no doubt he possesses players who can turn the game with a bit of magic. Cazorla is certainly of them.

The Spaniard, who now has 11 goals for the club, drifted in and out of the game, but he took his two strikes brilliantly.

“Santi Cazorla played very well and delivered in a game that was very important. He’s a great player,” Wenger said. “He has shown he’s a great football player and I’m happy and grateful he delivered those two important goals today.

“I didn’t expect him to score so many goals for us. He has 11 games to go so he could get a few more. For me, he’s a complete football player because he also has spirit. He was a bit tired in the last few minutes, but he continued to fight. He’s a good example to follow. He’s happy to come and play and practice every day, and he gives you absolutely everything on a football pitch.”

The win puts pressure on Tottenham, which now has a one-point advantage over their rival for fourth place ahead of a game at West Ham on Monday.

Villa remains one point above the relegation zone, and on this evidence, certainly has the players to stay up.

Watched by owner American owner Stan Kroenke, making a rare visit to north London, Arsenal started well.

Jack Wilshere capitalized on a poor backpass and raced at goal, but the midfielder fired straight at the American Guzan.

Cazorla then lifted the quiet atmosphere inside the Emirates with Arsenal’s opener in the sixth minute.

Nathan Baker blocked Cazorla’s initial shot after some good work by Wilshere, but the Spaniard made no mistake with his second effort, slotting past Guzan with a beautiful curling effort.

Urged on by an animated Paul Lambert from the touchline, Villa looked to hit straight back. Charles N’Zogbia raced down the right past Thomas Vermaelen and pulled the ball back for Gabriel Agbonlahor, but Wojciech Szczesny saved.

N’Zogbia cantered down the flank moments later, but Agbonlahor was unable to keep up with him and he arrived just too late to tap in the Frenchman’s cross.

Weimann was the next man to charge at the Gunners defense. He laid the ball off to N’Zogbia, but Szczesny parried well before Thomas Vermaelen hooked the ball clear.

Villa’s attacks led to a nervous atmosphere inside the Emirates, but Theo Walcott brought them to the edge of their seats with a teasing curler that flew inches over Guzan’s goal.

Villa continued to pour forward, however. Matt Lowton nutmegged Abou Diaby and entered the Arsenal box, but Vermaelen came to the rescue with a last-gasp tackle. Lowton caught the Belgian in his follow-through and was booked for the foul. Diaby then entered the book for a clumsy challenge on N’Zogbia.

Arsenal’s passing was often sloppy and the home fans became annoyed at the Gunners’ attempts to pass the ball in to the net.

The hosts did produce an impressive move just before the break, though, with Cazorla finding Olivier Giroud, but Guzan was equal to the Frenchman’s effort.

Arsenal started to dominate the game again after the break but again was reluctant to shoot on goal, much to the annoyance of the home crowd.

With Arsenal throwing so many players forward, the Gunners were left vulnerable at the back.

Weimann went on another rampaging counter down the right and crossed for Agbonlahor, but the forward headed wide.

Wenger was forced into a change just after the hour when Diaby hobbled off with another injury. Aaron Ramsey came on in his place.

Villa then stunned the home side by equalizing. Carl Jenkinson failed to clear a long punt down field, the ball made its way to Weimann and he went on a blistering 40-yard run before beating Szczesny with a weak shot.

Wenger rose from his bench and cast a disappointed glare at his team. His troubles nearly worsened soon after when Christian Benteke found space at the back post, but Per Mertesacker got in front of the Belgian before he could head on goal.

Wenger gambled, throwing Lukas Podolski on for Jenkinson, and Arsenal pressured the visitors’ box.

Guzan saved brilliantly to deny Giroud from point-blank range as Arsenal continued to pile forward.

Arsenal got its reward five minutes from time when Nacho Monreal swung the ball into the box and Cazorla converted, much to the relief of Wenger and the home fans.

Lambert was disappointed to see his team come away with nothing despite a pleasing display.

“We shouldn’t have lost it,” he said. “We were exceptional in parts of that game and we should have been in the lead at halftime. At the very least we should have come away with a point.”

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Gasol was a substitute Thursday after missing five games with a concussion. Earl Clark started at power forward in Gasol’s place in the Lakers’ 99-90 loss to the Miami Heat.

D’Antoni initially framed the lineup shift as a decision based on Gasol’s conditioning and said on Thursday the Spaniard would “probably” return to the starting lineup Sunday when the Lakers begin a three-game road trip in Toronto.

The coach changed his tune a bit on Friday when discussing Gasol’s role.

“My job is to put the best team on the floor,” D’Antoni said after admitting that he had not yet decided if Gasol or Clark would start against the Raptors. “If I feel like (starting Gasol is) the best way to go, then we’ll go that way. If I don’t, it’s nothing personal. It’s just that I got to do what I think is right. I think every player has to accept what is right, whether they like it or not. So, that’s the bottom line.

“Now, does he deserve to start? Yeah, he does. He’s been here a long time and probably that will happen, but if it doesn’t, then you know what? You got to go on. You got to contribute. You got teammates to think about. You got the Lakers to think about. You got to do whatever is best for the Lakers. Whether we agree or not, then that’s something else, we can agree to disagree. My job is to try to get the best team on the floor all the time and make it work. That doesn’t mean I’m not including him. I just mean, that’s my job.”

Gasol, who helped the Lakers win back-to-back championships alongside Kobe Bryant, stated why he should continue to remain with the first unit.

“I’ve never come off the bench in my career,” Gasol said. “(Thursday) was my first game off the bench with the Lakers, maybe a couple other games due to injuries, but that’s it. I’ve been a starter my entire career. I’ve been a star starter my entire career, so I want to continue to be a star starter.”

Gasol was in the starting lineup for the first 345 games he played with the Lakers before coming off the bench against Miami. The 12-year veteran has started 815 of the 822 games he’s played in his career.

When Gasol started the first 25 games he played in this season, he was a far cry from the “star starter” he’s been in the past. Gasol is averaging career lows in points per game (12.2) and field goal percentage (42.0 percent) this season.

D’Antoni told reporters that who starts is inconsequential.

“Starting does not matter,” D’Antoni said. “Starting does not matter, so, that’s kind of a moot point. Now, the last 10 minutes of the game or eight minutes of a game, that matters.”

Gasol had 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting along with four rebounds and four assists against the Heat. He played just 25 minutes, but was on the court for all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter.

“I think the finishing is more important,” Gasol agreed. “I think the best players should finish off games. That’s just the way it’s got to be. When the game is on the line, you want to be on the floor. That’s more important.”

Still, Gasol did not sound comfortable relinquishing his starting spot.

“I guess,” Gasol said when asked if he would accept coming off the bench but still playing the lion’s share of the minutes at power forward. “There’s ways to work it out if it’s absolutely necessary or mandatory.”

One Lakers big man who is clearly entrenched in the starting lineup is Dwight Howard.

While Howard’s spot with the first five won’t change, former Laker Robert Horry would like the center’s demeanor to. Horry, now an analyst for Time Warner Cable SportsNet, told ESPNLA 710 radio’s “Max & Marcellus Show” this week that Howard needs to be “more focused” and needs to drop his all-smiles act.

What does D’Antoni think of the criticism?

“One, I don’t think about it,” D’Antoni said. “Two, I don’t think it’s fair. Three, that’s cool, it makes nice talk and stuff but everybody is his own personality. If you want him to be something else, he’s not going to be that.

“So, he’s productive. He’s the three-time defensive player of the year. He’s been to the Finals. Can he make some more steps? Yeah. He can get better. He’s working hard every day. But, don’t beat up somebody because he’s a fun-loving kind of guy and then beat up on the guy that’s snarly and has a bad a scowl on his face. He is who he is. He’s a good person and that’s all you can go from. Somebody may like it, somebody may not, but that’s the way it is.”

Horry’s comments only provided more material for Howard to joke about. When Howard approached a pack of reporters on Friday he announced, “Nobody better smile, Robert Horry said not to,” before sitting down to answer questions.

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