Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill will not panic if overtaken by Arsenal

Mar 12 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O’Neill insists he is unconcerned about dropping out of the top four for the first time in three months before Villa even face Tottenham.

Instead, he has told his side to remain “within a point or two” of Arsenal after three tough matches to keep their challenge alive.

Villa first crept into the Champions League places when they won at White Hart Lane back in September.

Not since December 28, when Arsenal were momentarily ahead by virtue of scoring one more goal, have Villa been out of the top four.

O’Neill’s men promptly won at Hull City to reclaim fourth and have never looked back.

But a win for Arsene Wenger’s side on Saturday against Blackburn, buoyed by their penalty shoot-out win in Roma, will see Villa drop to fifth on goal-difference.

That is quite some turnaround when Villa could have held an eight point lead, for 48 hours, had they held on against Stoke City in their last home game.

But O’Neill does not see it that way.