Applying for English

So I'm just wondering whether anyone has any advice for me on this...
I'm not sure what I'm going to apply for, probably English Lit, and A-levels are going fine so far, apart from one thing.
I took AS Economics last year and flunked it. Completely. Can't stand the subject, didn't bother working for it, I literally got a U.
Everything's going ok and I'm retaking it at the moment (didn't do it in January)...doesn't look as though I'm going to do much better this time round.
So I'm wondering - what are the odds of getting into a top university with three good full A-levels, but no fourth AS?
Also, I'm taking a year off, possibly two, and if I retake the AS yet again in January, won't that look a bit pathetic on my UCAS if I'm applying to top unis?
Thanks in advance

Thanks for the reply
So, if I re-sat this AS next year, would it make it harder for me to get in at UCL for example?