ARSENE WENGER believes Everton are as big a threat to them in the battle for fourth spot as Aston Villa.

The Gunners had to rely on an injury-time goal from Robin van Persie to escape from Goodison with a 1-1 draw on Wednesday.

An Everton victory would have moved them to within two points of the fifth-placed Londoners and within sight of the Champions League qualification places.

Instead, David Moyes’s side remain five points adrift in sixth, although Arsenal manager Wenger reckons the Merseysiders are a real threat to their hopes of a top-four finish.

“I have seen something that has underlined what I have always felt,” said the Frenchman. “Everton are as big a threat to us as Aston Villa.

“Everton are a very good side, and they are our rivals for a top four place just as much as Villa.

“They play with a fantastic spirit, and in Tim Cahill they have a player who is very intelligent, he always knows where to be. That is something that is hard to teach, but he always seems to be in the right place.”

Indeed, Cahill should drop the ‘makeshift centre-forward’ tag right now after a string of outstanding displays leading Everton’s cause.

The Australian scored his 100th career goal by putting Everton ahead on Wednesday. And since midfielder Cahill was switched up front in December at Manchester City when Everton had no fit strikers, he has netted four goals in a nine-match unbeaten spell.