Midfielder new deal hopes

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says he is delighted with the form of Stiliyan Petrov and is ready to offer him a new deal.

The former Celtic midfielder has been a revelation for Villa this season and his contribution to the side has been highlighted over the last couple of weeks after he was forced to sit out through injury.

Villa have gone off the boil while Petrov has been out of the first-team and O'Neill is hoping he will be back available for the trip to Arsenal this weekend.

The player is also in line for a new deal and it is hoped negotiations can be wrapped up asap.

"I think Stiliyan has done very well," O'Neill said of the Bulgarian. "He has about 20 months left and I actually think we have missed him in the last two games.

"He is enjoying his football, getting on with it great and we will see how things develop over the next month or so."