THROWING IN THE TOWEL ... Martin
O'Neill
Everton boss David Moyes is also backing Arsenal to
finish fourth after the Gunners’ closest rivals shared a point in a
3-3 thriller.
Villa chief O’Neill said: “This is a result that suits
Arsenal. I wouldn’t disagree with what David thinks.
“We won’t give up but Arsenal have been on a long
unbeaten run and we need to win every game.”
Moyes admitted: “Arsenal’s win on Saturday makes it
very difficult for us to get there. Until it is mathematically
impossible we won’t give up the chase. But you have to be realistic
here. Villa and Everton have had a go at competing with the big
four and come up a little short.
“Arsenal looked like they might struggle for a while
earlier this season and if things had gone against them then you
could see an opening.
“It was nice to entertain but it would have been nicer
to win.” Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill put Everton in charge
before John Carew got one back.
Steven Pienaar restored the two-goal advantage only for
Villa to clinch a draw with a James Milner free-kick and a Gareth
Barry penalty.
Moyes contested the decision to award a spot-kick after
Joleon Lescott’s boot caught Stiliyan Petrov in the head.
He said: “I thought it was an indirect free-kick for
dangerous play. You are allowed to raise the boot in the area and
it was accidental. I also thought we should have had another
penalty when Jo was pushed in the back.”
Fifth-placed Villa are now eight points behind Arsenal.
O’Neill added: “Defensively, we conceded three goals at home and if
you are going to win you shouldn’t be asking to score four
goals.
“I thought we were fantastic going forward, a dream.
But it was a great game.”