The Archbishop of York may have been in a minority in failing to appreciate this fixture yesterday, but even Aston Villa supporters would admit that they require divine intervention if they are to resurrect their ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League.

Placing aside the religious arguments of playing on Easter Day, this was a wonderful game of football, but with a result that suited Arsenal far more than either of its protagonists. Villa resisted Everton’s challenge for fifth place for the time being, coming back from 3-1 down to level through Gareth Barry’s penalty midway through the second half, but Arsène Wenger’s team now hold an eight-point advantage in pursuit of the final Champions League berth.

Villa and Everton appear to be joint first among equals in those beneath the big four. Their three fixtures this season have showcased 15 goals, but whereas Martin O’Neill’s team led three times at Goodison Park in December before prevailing 3-2, it was Everton who spent the majority of yesterday’s roller-coaster in the lead.

When Villa returned to Goodison Park in the fifth round of the FA Cup in February they embarked on a ten-game winless run that has left their more morose followers gnashing their teeth at the Champions League place that got away. Now they and Everton will, in all likelihood, have to settle for entry to the Europa League.

It has become de rigueur for Villa to concede two goals a game, so they got that part of the equation out of the way in the opening 23 minutes yesterday. Phil Neville had already had one arrowing shot tipped superbly over by Brad Friedel when Leighton Baines collected a miscued clearance from Zat Knight to cross low and hard across the edge of the six-yard area for Marouane Fellaini to tap in his fourth goal in five games.

Everton, fresh from their 4-0 thumping of Wigan Athletic, have lost only twice in 21 games as they go into Sunday’s Cup semi-final with Manchester United and their inter-passing on the break yesterday was a sight to behold, right out of the Arsenal mould. When they broke, three on three, Jô sent in Tim Cahill and his left-footed shot was parried behind. From Stephen Pienaar’s corner, Cahill lost Curtis Davies to head firstly against the crossbar and then the rebound over the line. That is seven games in succession O’Neill’s team have conceded at least two goals.

Which Villa would respond? The one that caved in to lose 5-0 away to Liverpool three weeks ago, or the one that took the game to Manchester United eight days ago to go ahead deservedly? Thankfully for another crowd of more than 40,000 at Villa Park, who have witnessed only five home victories this season – West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough fans have enjoyed as many – their team went for broke. When James Milner’s cross deflected off Joleon Lescott and Barry stuck out a leg to divert the ball towards Gabriel Agbonlahor, John Carew reacted to drive the ball over the line. It was his fourth goal in six games.

O’Neill was screaming for a penalty when Lescott had one arm around Carew moments later, but still Everton broke with quality and alacrity, Jô seeing his shot blocked for a corner at the culmination of a sweet move in which Pienaar and Leon Osman were again instrumental.

Villa regrouped at half-time and the message to Ashley Young was clearly to get at Tony Hibbert. Twice the England winger went over in the area, tussling shoulder to shoulder in the first instance, trailing a leg over the right back’s outstretched foot in the second, but Howard Webb, the referee, was having none of it.

When Pienaar collected Neville’s pass and cut inside from the left to score with a wonderful shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 53rd minute, and then Agbonlahor limped off, having added a twisted ankle to a strained hamstring and a virus, it looked like game over.

“I thought we played well, passed it well,” David Moyes, the Everton manager, said. “But the one thing you know about Villa is that you’ll have to deal with their power and pace and they were very strong at times.” O’Neill considered Carew “unplayable” at points yesterday while Barry rose to the heights of his game.

When Cahill tripped the England midfield player, only two minutes after Pienaar’s goal, outside the area, Milner stepped up to curl home a brilliant free kick, around the wall and inside Tim Howard’s near post. The noise at Villa Park threatened to lift the roof.

Howard, the Everton goalkeeper, had to palm the ball off Stiliyan Petrov’s head as Barry headed Milner’s centre across goal and Moyes withdrew Hibbert, the full back having suffered enough and at risk of a second yellow card.

But when Lescott raised his boot as Petrov dashed into the area after Carew’s flick-on, Webb awarded Villa the penalty they felt they deserved, and Barry crashed in his eighth goal of the season. Four minutes into stoppage time, Milner rampaged into the area at the far post only to head Petrov’s centre over the bar. Martin, so nearly, yet so far.

Aston Villa (4-4-2): B Friedel 5 L Young 6 Z Knight 5 C Davies 6 N Shorey 7 J Milner 7 S Petrov 7 G Barry 8 A Young 7 G Agbonlahor 5 J Carew 7 Substitutes N Delfouneso 5 (for Agbonlahor, 53min). Not used B Guzan, S Sidwell, M Salifou, N Reo-Coker, C Gardner, M Albrighton. Next: West Ham (h)

Everton (4-4-1-1): T Howard 5 A Hibbert 4 P Jagielka 7 J Lescott 7 L Baines 7 L Osman 7 T Cahill 7 P Neville 6 S Pienaar 7 M Fellaini 7 Jô 7 Substitutes L Jacobsen 5 (for Hibbert, 65min), L Saha (for Jô, 81). Not used C Nash, A van der Meyde, S Castillo, J Rodwell, D Gosling. Next: Chelsea (a)

Referee H Webb Attendance 40,188