Villa correspondent Brendan McLoughlin mulls over whether Martin O’Neill’s men will make it to the finish line in fourth.

Nowhere more than in the race for fourth has the balance of power shifted so dramatically and so swiftly.

Turn the clock back to the start of the month and Villa were cruising towards the Champions League.

March 1 is already being pinpointed as the turning point – the day Martin O’Neill’s side blew a two-goal lead with just three minutes left to draw 2-2 with Stoke.

The chance to move eight points clear of Arsenal might have been spurned but, even then, fourth was still theirs to lose. But that is exactly what they have preceded to do.

Three defeats on the spin – the last a demoralising 5-0 drubbing by Liverpool – have left them now three points adrift of Arsene Wenger’s side.

With a trip to Manchester United next up, followed by the visit of Everton to Villa Park, the fear is the Gunners could be out of sight by the end of Easter.

While their recent confidence-sapped performances might indicate otherwise, the table at least suggests Villa are very much still in this top-four battle.

Add to that the difficult run-in awaiting the Gunners – they must play Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United in three of their last five games – and a potential lifeline could be on the horizon.

But, unfortunately for the claret and blues, their downward spiral has coincided with an upturn in Arsene Wenger’s men’s fortunes.

Just as in their championship-winning seasons under the Frenchman they have found another gear at the right time, aided by the return of Eduardo and Theo Walcott and soon to be further boosted by the availability of the man who makes them tick, Cesc Fabregas.

The key for Villa is staying in touch with Arsenal entering those final five games – if they can keep the gap to within seven or so points then they cannot be ruled out just yet.

That means it is vital they get something from their next two games.

Trips to Old Trafford usually end in one outcome but Villa will at least take hope from United’s uncharacteristic recent slips – and the absence of key trio Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney.

Right now, there Easter Sunday clash with the Toffees looks more like a fifth versus sixth play-off and the loser of that game can effectively be ruled out of the fight for fourth.

The Merseysiders suffered a setback against Portsmouth last weekend but, that aside, have been quietly chalking up the victories to stay in striking distance.

But, realistically, a repeat of last season’s fifth looks the best David Moyes’ men can hope for with them currently seven points behind Arsenal.

Pressure is nothing new to the north Londoners at this stage of the season and right now the odds are stacked in their favour.

Villa’s run-in is the best of all though, so it could well go to the wire.

Arsenal’s fixtures: Manchester City (h), Wigan (a), Liverpool (h), Middlesbrough (a), Portsmouth (a), Chelsea (h), Manchester United (a), Stoke (h).

Villa’s fixtures : Manchester United (a), Everton (h), West Ham (h), Bolton (a), Hull (h), Fulham (a), Middlesbrough (a), Newcastle (h).

Everton’s fixtures : Wigan (h), Villa (a), Chelsea (a), Manchester City (h), Sunderland (a), Tottenham (h), West Ham (h), Fulham (a).