Source: Team_Talk
O'Neill expects reinvigorated Arsenal
O'Neill does not feel Villa have gained an advantage from the Gunners going through to the last eight of this season's competition - and still being involved in the FA Cup - while they have only the Premier League left to compete in.[LNB]Fourth-placed Villa, who entertain Tottenham on Sunday, currently head Arsene Wenger's team by three points entering the final 10 games of the season.[LNB]O'Neill said: "Did Arsenal's exertions in midweek help Villa? I didn't see it that way at all.[LNB]"I think Arsenal will be re-energised by the result more than anything else. It was a great boost for them.[LNB]"With their players coming back from injury, they will have a pretty strong squad for the final few weeks of the season. Their squad is stronger than ours and they have been there before.[LNB]"Things are still in our own hands. We have a lot of tough fixtures in the immediate future and Sunday's game is so important to us.[LNB]"But we would still hope to be in a good position for the last six or seven games of the season."[LNB]O'Neill feels the Villa players have reaped the benefits of a five-day break in Dubai and are ready for the challenges ahead.[LNB]He said: "The break has done the players a world of good and I think they are all set for what is in effect a 10-game season.[LNB]"It is up to us. We have to try to get ourselves going again at Villa Park, try to win a match there, and we are capable of doing it."[LNB]O'Neill admits skipper Martin Laursen may have only a minimal part to play for the remainder of the season after a setback in his recovery from knee surgery which means he is unlikely to make his comeback at Manchester United on April 5.[LNB]He said: "Maybe he overdid things a little bit. It's a setback for him. I was hoping he might be back for the United game but I would not be convinced about that now."[LNB]The Villa boss also indicated he is set to hold further talks this week with midfielder Stiliyan Petrov over a new contract.[LNB]The Bulgaria international, who has been in fine form this season, has only 16 months to run of his current deal.[LNB]O'Neill is weighing up whether to include left-back Wilfred Bouma in his squad to face Tottenham after eight months out of action with a dislocated ankle.[LNB]The Holland international made his comeback in a midweek reserve game.[LNB][LNB]
