Martin O’Neill has warned his side cannot afford to get carried away with their Arsenal exploits – as the Premier League’s “benchmark” side will bring them crashing back down to earth.

Having toppled the Gunners last weekend, Villa now face an even bigger hurdle in two days’ time in the shape of Manchester United.

As delighted as O’Neill was with that performance against Arsenal, he insists they still have to prove they are consistent enough to be taken seriously as top-four contenders.

That means ending United’s run of 25 games unbeaten against Villa in the Premier League.

O’Neill said: “If you start taking your eye off the ball, if you start making silly forecasts, silly predictions on the strength of any particular game, it’s tantamount to disaster.

“That’s not being cagey, it just is. Even if you wanted to get carried away, you couldn’t. You’re brought down to earth by it all.

“The big teams have the consistency. They have the big squads, they’re able to do things. As importantly as anything, they’re able to deal with setbacks in a manner that sets them apart.

“Manchester United coming to town is always a big occasion and it always will be. If we’re looking at this fixture in 40 years’ time I’m sure it will be exactly the same. They come rolling in as European champions and league champions and deservedly so.

“We’re still looking at United very much as the benchmark and it’s an exciting game.

“You take your eye off this Premier League and you’re going along nicely in games, then the next thing you know you lose a game, then draw or lose the next one, as we did, then you’re starting to think that getting the next point is hard.”