Post by davefc on Feb 11, 2010 16:25:29 GMT
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted his side will not give up on the title after seeing them beat Liverpool while their rivals dropped points.
The Gunners' 1-0 victory moved them within six points of leaders Chelsea, who lost 2-1 to Everton while Manchester United drew at Aston Villa.
"Everybody drops points everywhere so let's see what happens," said Wenger. "The most consistent side will win it.
"We will fight until the last second of the season."
Abou Diaby's second-half header sealed a crucial three points for Arsenal, who had been written off in several quarters following successive defeats to United and Chelsea.
It could definitely go down to the wire
Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins
But those three points could have been cut to one had Liverpool been awarded a penalty late on when Cesc Fabregas blocked Steven Gerrard's goalbound free-kick with his hand.
Whether Fabregas was inside the box when he made contact with the ball is debateable, but Wenger, who saw the incident, insisted Liverpool should not have had a penalty.
Wenger refuses to rule out title
He said: "It was a controversial situation.
"The free-kick against us was harsh. Gerrard didn't deserve the free-kick he got and afterwards Fabregas maybe touched the ball with his hand, but it shouldn't have been a free-kick."
The Frenchman admitted he was relieved to get games against the other three sides in the top four out of the way.
"No-one realises how hard it is to play United, Chelsea and Liverpool in three straight games," said Wenger. "It's massive and you have to recover physically and mentally.
"It's a massive result for us because we played against a very good side."
The fixture list also appears to favour the Gunners, who only have two matches to play against any of the current top seven teams.
Benitez confident of top four finish
United and Chelsea go head-to-head in April, while both sides still have to play Liverpool and Manchester City.
"I don't see any mathematical reason why we shouldn't believe. It can change quickly," said Wenger. "We are just trying now to win our next game and if they slip up, there's a chance."
Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins agreed with Wenger that there is plenty of mileage in the title race after Everton striker Louis Saha scored twice to cut the Londoners' lead over United to one point.
"It is extremely exciting," said Wilkins. "You could say that Arsenal are back in it now. And it could definitely go down to the wire.
606: DEBATE
We are very much back in the race. But we'll drop points too before the end of the season so should be interesting
topgunns
"We must make sure that we are there or thereabouts when it happens."
United assistant Mike Phelan also predicted more twists and turns in the run-in.
"Everybody keeps saying it's a two horse race but we never see it like that," said Phelan after United's 1-1 draw at Villa Park.
"Other clubs are coming into the frame again but that's the Premier League. When May comes we'll see who's done the most
The Gunners' 1-0 victory moved them within six points of leaders Chelsea, who lost 2-1 to Everton while Manchester United drew at Aston Villa.
"Everybody drops points everywhere so let's see what happens," said Wenger. "The most consistent side will win it.
"We will fight until the last second of the season."
Abou Diaby's second-half header sealed a crucial three points for Arsenal, who had been written off in several quarters following successive defeats to United and Chelsea.
It could definitely go down to the wire
Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins
But those three points could have been cut to one had Liverpool been awarded a penalty late on when Cesc Fabregas blocked Steven Gerrard's goalbound free-kick with his hand.
Whether Fabregas was inside the box when he made contact with the ball is debateable, but Wenger, who saw the incident, insisted Liverpool should not have had a penalty.
Wenger refuses to rule out title
He said: "It was a controversial situation.
"The free-kick against us was harsh. Gerrard didn't deserve the free-kick he got and afterwards Fabregas maybe touched the ball with his hand, but it shouldn't have been a free-kick."
The Frenchman admitted he was relieved to get games against the other three sides in the top four out of the way.
"No-one realises how hard it is to play United, Chelsea and Liverpool in three straight games," said Wenger. "It's massive and you have to recover physically and mentally.
"It's a massive result for us because we played against a very good side."
The fixture list also appears to favour the Gunners, who only have two matches to play against any of the current top seven teams.
Benitez confident of top four finish
United and Chelsea go head-to-head in April, while both sides still have to play Liverpool and Manchester City.
"I don't see any mathematical reason why we shouldn't believe. It can change quickly," said Wenger. "We are just trying now to win our next game and if they slip up, there's a chance."
Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins agreed with Wenger that there is plenty of mileage in the title race after Everton striker Louis Saha scored twice to cut the Londoners' lead over United to one point.
"It is extremely exciting," said Wilkins. "You could say that Arsenal are back in it now. And it could definitely go down to the wire.
606: DEBATE
We are very much back in the race. But we'll drop points too before the end of the season so should be interesting
topgunns
"We must make sure that we are there or thereabouts when it happens."
United assistant Mike Phelan also predicted more twists and turns in the run-in.
"Everybody keeps saying it's a two horse race but we never see it like that," said Phelan after United's 1-1 draw at Villa Park.
"Other clubs are coming into the frame again but that's the Premier League. When May comes we'll see who's done the most