Aston Villa are the biggest threat in the race for fourth

Bar a 94th-minute strike from Arsenal striker Niclas Bendtner Aston Villa would now be the first team this season to win at Emirates Stadium.

Ok, it means little in a game where Carling Cup winners can lose 4-1 to Birmingham and 10 men can win 4-0 at one of their 'fiercest' local rivals. After all West Ham won at the Gunners' new home last season and then came 90 minutes from relegation.

But the way Aston Villa have come to perform under Martin O'Neill this season means results like Saturday's simply cannot be overlooked as flukes.

Since narrowly suffering defeat at the feet of Steven Gerrard on the opening day Villa have gone from strength to strength, highlighted by the way they came from behind to almost steal victory at Anfield in January. On that occasion it was a late intervention from Peter Crouch which denied them. Manchester United too were contained until Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in the final 10 minutes.

Although two dropped points is a blow to Arsenal's title aspirations, they're not looking over their shoulder at Villa. Unfortunately we are, and, although the above evidence could on one hand see Villa labelled 'bottlers', they could also be more dangerous in the battle for fourth spot than Everton.

With Everton we get the chance to right some wrongs. David Moyes still has to march his troops across Stanley Park for what is sure to be one of the most important Merseyside derbies in years. O'Neill's side, to use a football manager's cliché, can only keep winning.

They will have to hope for a Liverpool slip up too of course, as we still have that game in hand (two until later this afternoon). But whereas Everton could fade in the face of a tough-looking fixture list - it includes a trip to Arsenal and the visits of both Villa and Chelsea - O'Neill's side are arguably better prepared for the big challenges these days. Unlike us and Everton they also have no European commitments.

On the positive side, as far as Liverpool are concerned, it emerged yesterday that O'Neill will be without defensive lynchpin Curtis Davies for the rest of the season after he suffered a ruptured Achilles. Like us, the Villans can also be their own worst enemies - defeats at home to Portsmouth and away at Fulham being cases in point. Cynics could even argue yesterday's throwing away of two points as such a blip.

Whether we like it or not the battle for that final Champions League spot is set to go to the wire, Of course, we could always win our place in Moscow.

To use just one more cliche, only time will tell.

[Image: Getty]

Came straight to this page? Visit www.liverpoolpies.tv for all the latest news.

If you’ve enjoyed feasting on Liverpool Pies then you’ll love whoateallthepies.tv, the best source of football news, views and gossip in the blogosphere!

Posted by on March 2, 2008 8:12 AM in Champions League| News
Permalink | Comments (3) | digg this | del.icio.us this | Stumble It!

Comments