Barry dares to dream of Europe

GARETH BARRY has been around Villa Park long enough to know all about false dawns, but despite the harsh footballing lesson delivered by Arsenal he believes there is enough evidence to suggest that Aston Villa can at least mount a serious challenge for a UEFA Cup place this season.

The England midfielder was left marvelling at the Arsenal display, the best he has seen on his home patch “in a long time,” but the manner in which he and his determined team mates stretched the Premier League leaders in the second half was far more than cold comfort for the 27-year-old.

While fully admitting it was a reality check for Villa supporters and anyone else within the club who has been carried away by the Martin O’Neill revolution, Barry genuinely believes there is real reason for optimism at the club he has served his whole career and every reason to aim as high as trying to break into the Big Four this season.