Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says home form will be vital in race against Arsenal

Mar 13 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O’Neill has urged Villa to “grab” every advantage they can from their final five home games as he prepares for one final push towards the Champions League.

Villa are sitting proudly in fourth place on 52 points – their highest total after 28 games for 19 years.

But O’Neill knows that Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal could nudge them down into fifth place for the first time this year if the Gunners beat Blackburn tomorrow afternoon at The Emirates Stadium.

“Every advantage that we can now get at home we should grab,” he said.

“I just think it will be a genuine team effort, not only the players but from the supporters as well.”

Villa have won only five of their home games this season with 30 of their points tally coming with 10 away victories

O’Neill is unsure how many more wins his side will need to finish fourth.

But with an average total for fourth place in the Premier League of just under 67 points, and with Arsenal currently so strong, they are likely to need far more than the 61 points that got Everton there in 2005 and the 60 points that saw Liverpool finish fourth in 2004.