Aston Villa's Gareth Barry: We need big guns to fire
GARETH Barry has called for Villa’s big players to stand up and be counted and insists that they will not throw in the towel in the hunt for the top four.
Barry admits the initiative has now swung towards Arsenal with his team-mates struggling for confidence.
Villa are fifth, albeit on goal-difference to the Gunners, for the first time since they travelled to Hull City at the end of December.
“It’s advantage them, definitely,” said stand-in skipper Barry.
“Character is a big word. We have to show a lot of that until the end of the season.
“If the good players perform when you are really up against it, that is a good sign.
“I’m sure we have plenty of those in our dressing room and we are looking forward to next week to try and put it right.”
Arsenal have whittled down Villa’s six-point advantage within a fortnight and now lie ahead by virtue of a plus-seven goal difference.
The in-form Gunners, unbeaten in 15 league games, are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League. With Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky soon-to-be back from injury the tide has turned Arsenal’s way.
Barry admits Villa, who have taken one point from four matches and are without a win in seven game, are playing catch-up ahead of back-to-back trips to Anfield and Old Trafford.
