Recently by Ross Hawkes

ARE the big four now the big three? It's a simple question, but it's one which could change Aston Villa's entire outlook on the season.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea look as though they'll streak away from the rest over time, but Arsenal? I'm not so sure.

Yes, they're a talented bunch, but recent results and reports suggests their may be trouble at the Arsenal.

SO that's Alan Hansen on Match of the Day and the bloke from Coral bookmakers on TalkSport this morning who have given Martin O'Neill's men their backing for the title.

Apparently, the boys in claret and blue are favourites to triumph over everyone else.

Everyone else that is, apart from the big four.

It seems one time Aston Villa defender Earl Barrett is looking to follow the example of David Beckham.

The England man has recently revealed that he wants to own a club after he hangs up his boots.

But it seems Barrett is hoping to beat Becks to the punch.

BACK by unpopular demand, it's the Villabanter caption competition.

As usual, there's no rules, no restrictions and - most importantly - no prize.

Over to you...

SO there we have it, Villa's European campaign will now see them take on Ajax, Hamburg, Slavia Prague and MSK Zilina.

It wasn't as easy a draw as some of the British teams have had in the past, but on balance, it's not one of the most difficult this time around.

Ajax and Martin Jol's Hamburg are likely to be the big tests, but Slavia Prague and MSK Zilina will offer a little bit more of the unknown.

But with the top three going through, Villa fans will feel that anything but progression will represent failure.