Star duo face fitness fight

Aston Villa are sweating on the fitness of John Carew and Luke Young ahead of the trip to Arsenal this weekend.

Carew and Young were forced to miss the 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough on Sunday with hip and thigh problems respectively and Martin O'Neill now faces an anxious wait.

Villa's push for the top four has suffered following back-to-back defeats and O'Neill will want the duo back for the tough clash at the Emirates Stadium.

"Both had injuries which meant they missed the game (against Boro)," he told the club's official website. "Luke's doesn't look to be too bad.

"I thought John might be fine for Middlesbrough but he was unable to make it so we'll see how things progress for the pair of them during the rest of the week."