Martin O'Neill admits Aston Villa's hopes of clinching a lucrative place in the Champions League hang by a thread after his side's 3-3 draw against Everton.

Villa came from 3-1 down to salvage a point at Villa Park on Sunday but they still finished disappointed at a result which leaves them eight points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal with only six games to play.

The Gunners also have a superior goal difference and O'Neill concedes Villa's run of five games without a win has left them with little chance of catching Arsene Wenger's team.

"Are we out of the Champions League? I would not disagree. I think we had to win to keep in touch. It is a result that suits Arsenal," he said.

"With Arsenal winning yesterday (Saturday) it will now be very hard but we shouldn't just give up the fight like that.

"Arsenal have some very tough games ahead, so have we, so we just have to go and win them and see what happens. I am not giving up but it will be very hard."

Everton would have had a slender chance of catching Arsenal with a win, but their late meltdown at Villa left boss David Moyes admitting they will probably have to settle for the soon to be revamped UEFA Cup.

"I think the Arsenal win against Wigan has made it very difficult for any of us to get there," Moyes said.

"If Villa had beaten us they would think they would still be in with a shout and if we had won, we would have not given up the chase.

"You don't say never until it is mathematically impossible but realistically it will be hard to get fourth place.

"But given the players we have had missing this season, if we finish fifth or sixth it will be excellent for us.

"If you had given me that at the start of the season I would have taken it, especially with the players we've had missing."

While O'Neill was frustrated by Villa's failure to keep pace with Arsenal he had no cause to criticise their spirit.

First-half goals from Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill put Everton 2-0 up before John Carew pulled one back for Villa.

When Steven Pienaar restored Everton's two-goal lead early in the second half it looked all over, but James Milner scored with a superb free-kick to give Villa hope.

Gareth Barry equalised from the penalty spot in the 66th minute after Joleon Lescott's high challenge on Stilian Petrov.

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