Villa manager Martin O’Neill refused to condemn Stewart Downing after the winger wasted two golden chances in the goalless draw with Arsenal.

The winger ballooned over the bar when left unmarked to meet Ashley Young’s cross in the first half at Villa Park, while his miss in the second was even worse – failing to convert another Young centre into the unguarded net from just a couple of yards out.

O’Neill expected the England star to have done better with the efforts, but his criticisms ended there.

He said: “The one that came across to him in the first-half, I would have expected him to hit the target. He would have expected it himself, because he is usually very good at those situations.

“Stewart has got a very sure touch and I think he was caught in two minds over whether to control it or try to hit it on the volley.

“With the second chance he has gone very close but is still disappointed. It was a good chance and similar to the one he did score against Portsmouth in the Carling Cup.”

O’Neill was more delighted by Man of the Match Ashley Young, who continued his recent revival in form.

The manager said: “I think he has had a great season. He is playing fantastically for us. Not everyone agrees with me but it doesn’t really matter.

“For the team, Ashley gets back, covers, helps full-backs enormously, and then he has the ability and strength, power, call it what you want, to still pick it up and go 50 yards and go at full-backs in the manner he does.”

The Villa boss admits his team should have more points on the board at this stage, after their winless streak in the Premier League stretched to four games.

He continued: “We’ve gone four league games without a goal. I think anyone who has seen us in games, particularly the last three at home, Liverpool and West Ham we should have won and yesterday a draw may have been a fair result.

“But overall we should have more points on the board. We don’t We have to try and do something about it.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was left bemoaning a potential broken leg for defender Thomas Vermaelen and a hamstring injury to Eduardo.

He said: “Thomas we don’t know about. We have to have an X-ray. He is on crutches. It’s a fibula. Is it just a nerve or a bone broken, we have to check that out.

“Eduardo is a hamstring strain – a small one but he will be out for Sunday against Manchester United.”

Wenger believes Villa very much remain top-four contenders despite remaining seventh.

He said: “Yes, of course. I wish they have a good run now against all the other teams because they are quality, they are well organised, have a strong spirit, and are very strong physically.

“The midfield four of James Milner, Young, Downing and Stiliyan Petrov don’t stop running and all these players can score goals, so I think they have a good chance.

“But you have seven teams for four places.”