ARSENE WENGER has refused to give up on Arsenal winning the Premier League title despite their hopes of ousting Manchester United from top spot suffering a dramatic and seemingly devastating blow in yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool.
Wenger’s team looked set for victory following Robin Van Persie’s penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage time, only for the visitors to equalise through a penalty of their own four minutes later. Arsenal are six points behind United with only six fixtures to play.
Wenger was left enraged at referee Andre Marriner for pointing to the spot after Emmanuel Eboue appeared to push Lucas Leiva in the 101st minute of the contest. He denied the full-back had fouled the Brazilian and, following Dirk Kuyt’s conversion – which proved to be the last kick of the game – confronted Marriner on the pitch demanding to know why he had gone over the stipulated eight minutes of added time, a lengthy period that largely culminated from the treatment Jamie Carragher had to receive for a second-half head injury which required the defender to leave the pitch on a stretcher and wearing an oxygen mask.
Wenger also became embroiled in a heated exchange with Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool manager, regarding the awarding of the second penalty. Both men refused to expand on what they had said to each other, but reports suggest Dalglish swore at his counterpart.
“We conceded a penalty after 11 minutes and the extra time was only eight minutes, I don’t know where this additional time came from,” said Wenger.
“The referee has not explained anything to me but I know it was no penalty. Lucas played in an intelligent way. He stopped his [Eboue] runs, Eboue wanted to go to the ball and he stopped him and referee said nothing. What can you do about it?”
Wenger said last week that the “title would be over” for Arsenal if they failed to beat Liverpool and Tottenham, who they face at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. He refused to endorse that view here despite what has now proved to be Arsenal’s seventh draw in 15 league games and their third in a row at home.
“This looks like a defeat but we will keep giving everything until the last game of the season and see if it is our year. The hope is always there, to keep hope alive we have to win our next game.”
But that may prove difficult as Wenger admits his players will travel to White Hart Lane in a state of “disappointment” and, he conceded, looking jaded both physically and mentally.
Their performance certainly appeared to be that of a team running out of vigour after a season which, at one stage, appeared as if it could result in a quadruple of trophies but now looks like it will be the sixth in succession in which the club has failed to land any silverware.
The hosts created few chances against a team that was missing its captain, Steven Gerrard, through injury, and had to substitute three more players during the contest due to strains – Carragher, Andy Carroll and Fabio Aurelio. Carragher, who accidentally clashed heads with John Flanagan, recovered consciousness soon after being replaced and was well enough to congratulate his team-mates after the final whistle.
Carroll was taken off as a precaution after jarring his knee.
Aurelio, however, has damaged his hamstring and could now miss the rest of the season.
Arsenal appeared to have secured all three points when Jay Spearing tripped Cesc Fabregas in the area and Van Persie drove in the resulting spot kick for his 19th goal of the season. But Liverpool were to have the last word.
“I don’t think there’s any other team that would have shown the attitude and commitment that our team showed today,” said Dalglish. “I can’t speak highly enough of the players.”
This draw keeps Liverpool in the hunt for a Europa League place but has increased the chances of United winning a 19th league title and, therefore, ousting the Merseysiders as England’s most decorated domestic champions.
Up the road at Wembley, Stoke City, a team that Wenger has in the past derided for their “rugby tactics”, stuck five goals past Bolton to set up an FA Cup final against Manchester City, another team whose ethics Wenger has questioned.
One of them will enjoy a silver-lined finish to the season.
Guardian Service
