/ 25 December 2008

Aston Villa could crash title race

Aston Villa have what could be their best chance to crash the Premier League title race over Christmas with the opportunity to put one of their rivals out of the running and close the gap on the leaders.

While most teams — including top side Liverpool and second-place Chelsea, have to play twice in three days over the traditionally hectic holiday period — Villa hosts Arsenal on Friday and visits Hull on Tuesday in a game rearranged for the TV schedules.

The extra rest could prove crucial as Villa tries to force their way into a title race that no team has been able to dominate.

Liverpool — set to play Bolton and Newcastle — still leads despite having drawn four of their past five matches. Chelsea has won just one of five games and fourth-place Manchester United, which returns to its title defence after becoming world club champion in
Japan, has dropped points in three of its last six.

A second win over Arsenal in six weeks could effectively eliminate the inconsistent Gunners from a race they have rarely appeared capable of entering and even give Villa a chance to improve upon its current third place if Chelsea was to drop points in its
matches against West Bromwich Albion and Fulham.

Last month’s 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium showed Villa can compete with the so-called ”Big Four” despite its smaller squad and resources, but manager Martin O’Neill is downplaying his team’s chances.

”I wouldn’t want to start thinking that we are better than we are,” O’Neill said. ”We are doing fine and it has been a great effort by the team.”

With defender Martin Laursen a doubt for the game because of a knee injury, Villa will be glad that Arsenal will be without captain Cesc Fabregas because of a knee injury. The Gunners have laboured even with the Spain midfielder, but his likely four-month absence could end up leaving them even lower than the fifth place they currently occupy.

If Manchester City or Tottenham, both of which are flirting with relegation, had lived up to their preseason billing as possible contenders for fifth place, Arsenal could have even been struggling to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

As it is, another good performance by striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who scored in Villa’s 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium, could hit Arsenal’s chances of making the Champions League next season.

Agbonlahor could again lead the attack on his own in the absence of injured striker John Carew.

”Gabby’s development has been surprising,” Villa captain Gareth Barry said. ”His overall game has come together quicker than I would have thought. His pace and directness is frightening for defenders but
he is picking up bits and pieces along the way and scoring lots of goals.”

Agbonlahor has hit nine league goals this season, fewer only than Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka.

Anelka could be joined up front by Didier Drogba as Chelsea tries to return to its free-scoring form of early season. The Blues have drawn with Newcastle, West Ham and Everton in their last five matches, as
well as losing to Arsenal.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is without captain John Terry for the visit of West Brom after he was sent off against Everton on Boxing Day, leaving Alex and Branislav Ivanovic as his likely central defensive
partnership.

Ricardo Carvalho has not played since October 29 because of a knee injury and is not ready to return, although there is a slight possibility he could play at Fulham on Sunday.

Any slip up by the Blues could also give United, which is at Stoke on Friday, the chance to haul itself closer to the top.

Also on Friday, Bolton is at Liverpool, Hull is at Manchester City, Everton is at Middlesbrough, West Ham is at Portsmouth, Blackburn is at Sunderland, Fulham is at Tottenham, and Newcastle is at Wigan. – Sapa-AP