It'll be tough for Arsenal in Champion's League race, say Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor

Jan 16 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

 derby win over Albion, with Tony Mowbray’s quotes about their counter-attacking style already agreed upon by pundits like the BBC’s Mark Lawrenson.

Agbonlahor says Villa will have come under the microscope from all their rivals because of their form.

He said: “Teams will be studying how we play and be trying to stop us but we know that if we go out and play on our day we can beat anyone.

“If we can just keep picking up points, Arsenal still have some big games to play.

“Everyone is playing with confidence. The important thing for us is to keep getting results.”

Agbonlahor believes Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse are capable of upsetting the form-book.

“If you look at Sunderland’s team on paper they have a very strong team. It will be one of our toughest away games this season,” he said.

“They have a very good strikeforce in Jones and Cisse. It will be difficult.

“They are a good partnership so the defence will have to be at its best, but fortunately it has this season.

“If we can keep those two quiet, then we can go and do our stuff.’’