Striker John Carew believes Arsenal's late goal at the Emirates Stadium may have been the negative factor that has affected Villa's performances in recent games.

Nicklas Bendtner drew the Gunners level in injury time, leaving Villa's players and fans gutted not to have picked up maximum points.

"After the Arsenal game, we should have had a boost. It was a positive experience and should have given us great belief. Instead it's turned out to be the opposite," said Carew.

The Villa striker also refused to blame fatigue on Villa's poor haul against Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and Sunderland.

"We are all so well trained that we should be able to cope with being 100 per cent in every match in the league.

"I don't think that's too much to ask. That's what everybody expects. I am wondering a bit as to why it hasn't worked out in the last few matches. But we don't write off our chances of qualifying for Europe just yet.

"We have more matches to come and, in our head, we have to take things one match at a time.

"If we win the matches we have left then we still have a chance. It's not over until it's over but Saturday was a blow."