Third-placed Villa won 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium last month and another win would move them six points clear of the Gunners and put them firmly in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

Villa boss O'Neill, who has an injury doubt over central defender Martin Laursen due to a knee problem, said: "Confidence is high, no doubt about that.

"We are going in with confidence and that confidence can hide a few deficiencies.

"The players are getting a bit of praise and some of it may be over the top but they have deserved it at the end of the day because they have done exceptionally well.

"This is a game to look forward to and savour. It would be hard to play Arsenal and not get some enjoyment out of the game.

"They are a very fine footballing side. Last season, their first-half performance at Villa Park was sensational.

"They will still feel as if they are in the title race and who is to say they aren't.

"But I think we are getting better and it should be a fine game."

By Arsenal's own standards, their Barclays Premier League campaign has been something of a disappointment so far but O'Neill still does not think Villa will be viewed as favourites for the game.

He added: "We are talking about us having a good season and people are saying Arsenal have had an indifferent one.

"Well, only three points separate us and they have just qualified for the final 16 of the Champions League.

"It wouldn't worry me if we went into the game as favourites. It wouldn't be something we would think about beforehand.

"For the record I don't think we will be (the favourites). Arsenal are a top-quality side capable of winning on the road and they are also capable of beating us. But at the moment we are going in with confidence."

With the mood in the Villa camp so high, O'Neill is confident his team's hectic schedule will not hamper their bid to hold down a top-four place.

The clash against Arsenal will be their 30th game of the season - they only played 41 in the whole of last season - following their early start to the campaign in the InterToto Cup and their progression to the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.

But O'Neill does not think the players will start to feel the pace while they continue to challenge the Premier League's big guns.

O'Neill said: "I think it is easier to cope with playing a lot of games when you are playing well.

"At the moment as things stand I am pretty pleased.

"We did look a bit jaded in the second half at West Ham last weekend so to have held on in the manner that we did to win the game bodes well for the future."