ARSENAL will need to beat Bolton manager Bruce Rioch's former club in Sunday's FA Premiership climax to snatch the final European berth after last night's draw with Liverpool at Highbury.

Arsenal staged a relentless second half assault, but their failure to find a way past goalkeeper David James has left them little room for slip ups against their already relegated opponents. Tottenham will draw level with Arsenal on 60 points if they can win at Leeds tonight.

Arsenal were without the injured Ian Wright and, added to James's superb saves, was a desperate miss by Wright's stand in, John Hartson, two minutes before the break.

Ray Parlour dispossessed Jamie Redknapp and Paul Merson set up Hartson. The Welsh international surged into the area and appeared to have done everything right as he chipped over James, but the ball landed the wrong side of the left hand upright.

It was a critical cameo. A goal then would surely have sealed all three points for Arsenal, who have failed to win in their last four games.

Liverpool displayed many neat moves, but they were content to soak up the pressure and look for the occasional counter thrust.

The moment that Arsenal must finally have realised it wasn't going to be their night came after 74 minutes when James twisted to produce a magnificent one handed save from Hartson, Jason McAteer whipping away the lose ball as Nigel Winterburn followed up.