Getting Carried Away

THERE is always a danger with getting carried away.

You can always read too much into one good performance, or conversely one bad.

But when did Villa last record as important a result as winning 2-0 at Arsenal?

Not in my ten years in the midlands or over eight in covering the club.

They were supposedly out on their feet going into it. They'd lost two on the bounce, the long European nights were kicking in? They faced being dragged into mid-table by next weekend.

Arsene Wenger was almost gracious in defeat- well, not quite: "I don't have a rational explanation.... Maybe it's down to the quality of Villa's performance, I don't know."

Well, Arsene old fruit. It WAS as much down to Villa as anything.

Sure Villa have played better. Even this season. That opening half an hour at Tottenham they produced far more scintilating, fast-flowing stuff.

There have been far more enjoyable wins. 5-0 over Blues springs to mind.

But taking into account the opposition, taking into consideration the successive defeats beforehand and the fact Manchester United were next on the horizon- well, there's no question it was Martin O'Neill's finest hour at the club.

And I'm struggling to think of anything to rival it since Villa reached the 2000 Cup Final by beating Bolton on penalties.

Chelsea away in May 2002? A great win but the final game of a long season where they had ultimately fallen short.

Three wins over Chelsea in 2003, 2004 and 2007? All hugely enjoyable, against the odds and well-deserved. But all at home.

Chelsea at home in the League Cup in 2003? Terrific win. But Villa went out to Bolton.

Anfield in September 2001? An unbelievable win. And the closest thing to what happened at The Emirates, for sure.

Seven years ago Villa had also started the season in impressive fashion.

They'd just won the InterToto Cup, like this year, had opened with a draw at Spurs and had held Manchester United.

But following the win at Liverpool they were soon sent crashing out of the UEFA Cup by Croatian no-hopers Varteks.

The difference this time is that I can't see the Arsenal win going to their heads.

On Saturday everything that could have gone right, apart from a poorly hit penalty, clicked.

The centre-halves Curtis Davies and Martin Laursen were imperious, the full-backs Carlos Cuellar and Luke Young aggressive and sharp, the midfield two of Steve Sidwell and Gareth Barry were trojans with or without the ball, whilst Stiliyan Petrov closely patrolled nearby, eating possession as if it were a jam doughnut.

The wingers Ashley Young and James Milner were a threat. Young more so, Milner though with a tenacity when the opposition have the ball.

I am convinced Young was close to tears as I interviewed him after the game in the 'mixed zone', such was the euphoria of the occasion and perhaps relief after he had messed up from the spot.

Then there was Gabby Agbonlahor. This was a fella struggling for form and goals and subsequently confidence in a run of games following his quick-fire hat-trick against Manchester City.

But his goal at Arsenal, almost a carbon copy of his breakaway solo at Albion, was evidence of a player very much at the height of his powers and enjoying the spotlight.

There cannot now be any changes now for the United game. The system worked a treat against a side you knew would try to pass them to death.

And the positives are that now Villa have a special player on the bench, in John Carew, who can change games.

With Carew out of the side there is not the temptation to play it long down the middle. Without him Sidwell, Barry and Petrov were always looking to play their way through the middle.

Carew will hopefully come back into the team. Fulham at home is tailor-made for him.

My concern is that that saga of the late night curfew has left its mark. I'm hoping there is no hangover.

As for Nigel Reo-Coker and Nicky Shorey, the two other fall-guys, can they have hope?

Yes, both will be back before too long, although neither will want their recall to be in the UEFA Cup against Zilina with the Villa boss surely then looking to field his 'midweek' side.

As for Villa's chances against United?

Three things make me uneasy:

Firstly, United's 5-0 win over Stoke City; secondly, United's incredible love affair with Villa Park, and thirdly the fact that only Michael Carrick is in Berlin with the England party whilst Young, Agbonlahor, Davies and Barry all face a midweek trek.

Petrov, Carew and Laursen are also away on international duty.

Ideally Villa would have had a free week to prepare for what is now unquestionably the biggest game of their season.

Expectations have just been sent soaring. They'd shoot through the stratosphere if they ended a 13 year wait for a win against that lot.

Time to get carried away.