Are the next four games the most important of Villa’s season?

In a way, yes but only if they lose them.

If they come through them relatively unscathed, they will have passed another huge test but as Martin O’Neill knows, the tests do not stop coming for top teams. If Villa want to be a top team, they better get used to the pressure.

Villa’s next four games are:

Sunday 27th Dec: EPL: Away to Arsenal

Tuesday 5th Jan: League Cup: Away to Blackburn

6 points up for grabs and two cup ties, not season ending but potentially season defining.

The game at the Emirates will be a true test of Villa’s ability to mix it with the top teams. That is a bit unfair considering they have already won at Anfield and Old Trafford, as well as defeating Chelsea at home but if Villa can secure the scalp of the last remaining big four team, is there any reason to ever look back?

Villa are behind Arsenal only because of goal difference but the London club do hold a game in hand over their Midlands rivals. With Robin van Persie still unavailable, it is a good time to be taking on Arsenal but they have shown they can get goals from other areas.

Even if this match doesn’t go the way of Villa, the visit of Liverpool gives them the opportunity to create daylight between themselves and their Merseyside rivals.

Rafa Benitez is confident enough to guarantee a top four finish to his fans but a Villa win would see them, at worst, 8 points better off and full of confidence. Having already triumphed at Anfield, Villa have to fancy themselves to defeat Liverpool, who will be missing Mascherano through suspension (and injury).

A minimum of four points would set Villa up nicely for their Cup epic against Blackburn Rovers, the first two games in a three match battle.

Martin O’Neill has to consider the FA Cup a top priority for his club. Champions League is obviously the place to be, as O’Neill knows full well from his time in Glasgow but some silverware wouldn’t go amiss.

The League Cup would be a great addition but anyone that had a heart would want to win the FA Cup.

With the first leg of the League Cup semi-final following so close to the FA Cup tie, there could be some interesting team selections.

It may be that Rovers boss Sam Allardyce will prefer to keep his team fresh for the Ewood Park semi-final, potentially giving Villa the upper hand in the League Cup tie.

Martin O’Neill knows what it takes to win domestic cups in Scotland and England but even he must be worrying how far his squad can go. The memories of last season are likely to be preying on his mind at times;

“I think it’s very much the case of same again. We are hanging in but we’re playing well, with plenty of confidence. We are managing to win games when we go behind and when we get in front too.”

Trophies are never won in January but they can be lost and Martin O’Neill will be looking to keep his side in the hunt by the time the weather turns for the better.

Villa fans, are you going to keep this run going?

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