No consolation prize for Wenger

Purely theoretical
The Gunners' brilliance and frailty were shown once more on Sunday as they missed a number of chances before taking the lead against league leaders Manchester United FC, only to go down 2-1 following a penalty conceded soon after their opener and a sweetly-flighted free-kick from Owen Hargreaves. Now nine points behind United with four league games to go, their chances of reclaiming the Premier League title are now purely theoretical.

Wenger downcast
"We are out of the title race of course, we know that," said Wenger. "We played with quality and spirit, but what can you do about the result now? We had plenty of chances and I feel we were very unlucky not to win the game, but we have to accept what happened. In the last two months we have had a blip, but we have not had much luck either and you could see that again today. I believe this team is good enough to win things and our biggest target now is to keep the group together."

Tipping point
Arsenal looked set to take the English title despite selling star striker Thierry Henry to FC Barcelona last summer until their season started to unravel. Some would see the turning point as being their meek 4-0 defeat at United in the fifth round of the FA Cup on 16 February, while others would point to the horrific leg break suffered by striker Eduardo at the start of their game at Birmingham City FC on 23 February, a match they went on to draw 2-2 after conceding a late penalty. They have won only one of their subsequent six Premier League games.

Tiny differences
In midweek, Arsenal bowed out of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, losing 4-2 at Liverpool FC in a game which had parallels to Sunday's defeat at Old Trafford. They played some brilliant football and an Emmanuel Adebayor goal set them on course for victory only for a penalty decision at the other end to stop them in their tracks almost immediately. "The difference between success and failure this season has been very little," Wenger said glumly.

Generous praise
Praise from Sir Alex Ferguson will be of little consolation to Arsenal as they ponder a third season without a trophy, but the United manager was unusually glowing in his assessment of his side's vanquished foes. "Arsenal had some great moments, they were brilliant at times," he said, adding: "They were very unlucky to lose you'd have to say, they gave it their biggest effort of the season and were magnificent, but we've still managed to win the game."