Craig Gardner keen on a European adventure

Mar 5 2008 By Bill Howell

CRAIG Gardner says he is bursting with pride at Aston Villa's barn-strorming performance at Arsenal.

And he says the manner of their display is evidence of a team on the up and up who should be gunning for fourth place.

"We've taken the game to Arsenal," he said. "They're playing the likes of AC Milan so why can't we get that fourth spot and play against top European teams?

"I know we drew at Arsenal 18 months ago, but we could have lost 14-1 that day - they created loads of chances and finally took one.

"This time we outplayed the league leaders and that's a credit to Martin O'Neill, his staff and the players.

"I was proud to be part of that team because I think every single player performed.

"This shows just how far Aston Villa have come. Look at John Carew. He was tireless up front and then he came back tracking runners in our own box.

"Gabby Agbonlahor didn't stop running, Marlon Hare-wood, Isaiah Osbourne, the defenders - you couldn't ask for any more from anybody. You could see afterwards the players had given absolutely everything."

Gardner said the draw felt like a defeat: "The mood in the dressing room after the game said it all - we were actually disappointed that we'd come to Arsenal and only drawn."

"We outplayed them. We got the goal we deserved. To concede a goal with the last kick of the game, I was absolutely gutted."