Bolton crush Arsenal title hopes

Arsenal's Premier League title challenge is all but over after they lost to a last-minute goal at Bolton.

The Gunners were below par in the first half and trailed at half-time to Daniel Sturridge's header following a corner.

Early in the second half, Wojciech Szczesny saved a Kevin Davies penalty and a minute later Robin van Persie slotted in an equaliser for Arsenal.

The visitors had enough chances to win the match but were left shocked by Tamir Cohen's poignant late header.

The substitute celebrated his match-winning goal by revealing a t-shirt in honour of his late father Avi (a former Liverpool player), who died after a motorbike accident in December.

But while Cohen's sentiment was touching, Arsenal will be left with litttle reason to lift their mood.

Title chances now minimal - Wenger

After wins for league leaders Manchester United and rejuvenated challengers Chelsea on Saturday, the equation was a simple one for Arsenal: win, or essentially wave goodbye to this year's title challenge and their last remaining hopes of silverware.

Three points here would have left the Gunners knowing that victory over United at the Emirates next Sunday would have taken them to within three points of the leaders, but they now trail Sir Alex Ferguson's men by nine points with only 12 to play for.

Having spent much of the season as United's closest challengers for the league, Arsenal now face a battle to secure second place in the table, with Chelsea holding a three-point lead and a superior goal difference over them.

There was a time, not long ago, when Arsenal's performances at the Reebok represented a central tenet of the argument that Arsene Wenger's side were a soft touch.

Three successive victories at the Reebok in a run of eight straight wins in total over Bolton prior to Sunday had helped them to hit back at accusations of their physical fallibility.

But doubts remain about the Gunners' mental strength, which was further fuelled by their sacrificing of a two-goal lead in last Wednesday's 3-3 draw at north London rivals Tottenham, and will now come under the severest scrutiny.

Yet a victory in Lancashire would not have flattered Arsenal. They fashioned enough chances in the second half alone to comfortably win the game. The fact that they did not, when you suspect their title rivals would have, is telling.

Samir Nasri will be wondering how he did not score with two clear opportunities in the second half, firstly when Jussi Jaaskelainen saved his shot after he had been released by Van Persie, and then when the Frenchman failed to connect with a header back across the box to him from substitute Marouane Chamakh.

However, the visitors had only themselves to blame for being in such a frantic second-half state.

They had plenty of possession before the break, but too often let themselves down by over-playing in the final third, and often lacked focus in defence.

This gave encouragement to a Bolton side determined to make amends for their FA Cup semi-final hammering at the hands of Stoke last Sunday.

The clearest goalscoring chances in the first half were fashioned by the home side.

Coyle delighted with turnaround in form

Midway through the half, Sturridge split the Gunners defence with a pinpoint pass to unleash Chung-Yong Lee, but inexplicably the midfielder opted for an elaborate flick pass to Davies and Song was able to intercept and clear.

Minutes later, Johan Djourou's mistake gave Matthew Taylor a clear shooting opportunity, but Szczesny was able to save the 20-yard angled drive low down.

It was no surprise when Wanderers opened the scoring, seven minutes before the break, and it was equally predictable that the in-form Sturridge would get the goal.

Gary Cahill's header from a corner was blocked on the line by Nasri and Sturrdidge was first to react, nodding in his seventh goal in nine games since joining on loan from Chelsea.

In the first minute of the second half the 21-year-old made another major contribution, falling under the challenge of Djourou for a penalty.

However, Szczesny was able to save Davies' poorly taken spot-kick with his legs to keep alive Arsenal's hopes of victory.

These were raised further when, a minute later, Van Persie fed Fabregas in the box and then ran on to the Spaniard's lay off to side-foot in an equaliser.

This prompted a 40-minute siege of the Bolton goal, but a second away goal refused to come.

Instead Arsenal's growing desperation left them increasingly vulnerable at the back, and Bolton capitalised when Lee's corner was headed home by Cohen.

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Title race not over - Ancelotti

Title race not over yet - Ancelotti

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti challenged his players to win their five remaining games after closing the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester United.

"We are six points behind and it will not be easy to close that," said Ancelotti, whose team defeated Birmingham 3-1 on Wednesday.

"Our aim is to win every game and after that see how our position is. It will not be easy but that is our aim.

"We have to believe until the referee whistles for the end of the game."

Florent Malouda scored twice against Birmingham, including an early strike that set his team on their way to a comfortable victory.

With Arsenal held 3-3 at Tottenham, the men from Stamford Bridge moved above the Gunners and into second place on goal difference.

Chelsea have now won six of their last seven top-flight fixtures and have five games left to try to overhaul United and retain their Premier League title.

Ancelotti's team travel to Old Trafford for a match against United on 8 May, while the Red Devils also have to play Arsenal.

"The game is not finished but Manchester United have a fantastic advantage," added Ancelotti.

"We now have two games at home and after that we will have to wait and see."

Chelsea went six top-flight games without victory between 14 November and 27 December and have not been as high as second in the table since the middle of that poor spell of results.

But with his team hitting form at the right time, Ancelotti added: "In football, I learned that everything can happen in the game right up to the final whistle.

"You can win the title in the last minute and you can lose the title in the last minute.

"If we thought that one month ago we'd have a little chance to come back to fight for the title, I think that everyone could have said we were crazy."

Chelsea won the title with 86 points last season but currently have 64 points and cannot break the 80-point barrier this campaign.

"To win the title we'll need less points than last season," reflected the Blues boss.

"We won it with 86 last season. With [a total of] 80 points, United can win the title. They need 10 points [to reach that target]."

But Ancelotti refused to confirm whether wining the title would improve his chances of remaining in charge next season.

The Premier League is his team's one remaining chance of winning silverware this campaign, but the Italian said: "Questions with 'if' are not good.

"At the end of the season, we will have a big press conference, a strong and tough press conference."

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Ancelotti defiant on title hopes

Ancelotti refuses to give up on title

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists his side will not give up hope of retaining the title despite trailing leaders Manchester United by 11 points.

The reigning Premier League champions could only draw 1-1 away against Stoke on Saturday, almost certainly ending their already slim hopes.

But Ancelotti said: "We have to continue to do our best.

"The gap [to United] was not easy before and now it is more difficult but we have to think game by game."

Chelsea fell behind to an early Jonathan Walters strike and despite drawing level and dominating the first half, the hosts were good value for their point.

Ancelotti's side still have one game in hand on Man Utd and have to visit Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men must also face second-placed Arsenal but Ancelotti knows his side are rank outsiders in the title race.

"We didn't think about this before this game and we don't have to think about it after this game," Ancelotti said.

"The gap is more open now but we have to play our game. It is not about Manchester United.

"I think it is very difficult - we said that before the game.

"We did our best. It was a good result because Stoke had opportunities.

"They could have won, we could have won. It was exciting.

"It was a really tough game. Both teams could have won. We had a good reaction after we conceded a goal and the game was in balance.

"We are not so happy for the result but it was the right one for this game."

Stoke boss Tony Pulis felt his side gave Chelsea too much respect in the first half but was delighted with their second-half efforts.

Pulis impressed as Stoke 'match' Chelsea

"It was a great start and Jon scored a great goal," Pulis said. "But we sat back and gave them the impetus and in the last 20 minutes of the first half they showed what a great team they are.

"We had too many players after we scored sitting back and watching them pass it around.

"In the second half we pushed on to them with better quality balls up to Kenwyne Jones and got more bodies up there and it made for an entertaining game.

"We had the chances to win it but Chelsea are a great side with great players and you have to give them credit.

"They have a massive Champions League game against Manchester United on Wednesday and I thought their attitude was first class."

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We will fight for title - Wenger

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal can win the title despite letting a two-goal lead slip in the draw at Tottenham.

The Gunners were held 3-3, missing out on the chance to close within four points of leaders Manchester United.

But Wenger backed their mentality - and also said that a recent interview from captain Cesc Fabregas, which seemed to undermine his boss, had been twisted.

"They have an outstanding attitude," said manager Wenger. "We'll fight like mad for the next game. We can do it."

Of suggestions that his team - who were leapfrogged by Chelsea on goal difference on Wednesday and now sit third in the table - lacked the capability to secure an important win from a commanding position, the Frenchmen added: "It is very unfair.

"We're on a 15-game unbeaten run, and no-one else has done that.

"Chelsea are now back in the race. Chelsea play Manchester United and Tottenham, but it's down to us. We have to keep our faith and keep battling."

In an interview with Spanish magazine Don Balon earlier this week, Fabregas appeared to suggest that Wenger would have been sacked if he was managing a similar-sized club in Spain - given that Arsenal have not won a trophy since 2005.

"It's clear that if you come to Spain and say to [Unai] Emery, [Pep] Guardiola or [Jose] Mourinho that they'll win nothing in the next three years, it's obvious they wouldn't continue [in their jobs]," Fabregas is quoted as saying.

"But here it's different. The boss is an intelligent person and the club values other things: that the team is always in the Champions League, that it fights until the end, that it brings young players through, the economic stablity."

Yet Fabregas himself said that his words had been manipulated, and Wenger echoed those sentiments after the thrilling encounter at White Hart Lane.

"The article bothers me," Wenger said. "This was an article organised by the club with a check viewing of the article. Not only did the author not respect the agreement, but also he did twist completely the article and we are really upset about it.

"It was not an attack on my philosophy. That is not what he Fabregas said. He said completely the opposite."

Of the match, which leaves Arsenal with only five league games of the season left, Wenger felt his side struggled to maintain their intensity throughout, having come through a tough draw against Liverpool on Sunday.

"It was a game with a frenetic tempo," he said. "Of course we have regrets, because we were 3-1 up. But the second was an outstanding goal and then we conceded a penalty.

"We had a fantastic attitude in the first half but dropped in the second half because it is a massive advantage playing two games of such stature in a matter of days.

"It is too short to maintain that pace for 90 minutes."

Redknapp pleased to match Arsenal

Spurs quickly recovered from going 1-0 down to Theo Walcott's opening goal to level through Rafael van der Vaart.

Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie then made it 3-1 to the visitors before Tom Huddlestone completed a remarkable first half of scoring to reduce the deficit.

Van der Vaart's penalty made it 3-3 and Tottenham could have even taken all three points had Luka Modric not seen a shot well smothered by Gunners keeper Wojciech Szczesny.

"It was a great game to be involved in," said Spurs manager Harry Redknapp.

"We had two teams playing unbelievable football. We couldn't live with them early on with their passing ability, which was breathtaking, but we stuck in there and stayed with them and got an equaliser.

"It looked over at 3-1 - I spoke to [Arsenal keeper] Jens Lehmann and he said we looked dead and buried - but it was an amazing performance from us. We have both got attacking flair and go for it. We swarm forward in numbers and so do they.

"It's what football is all about - you don't want to see teams sit back and play for 0-0."

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Arshavin: Title run-in favours us

Andrei Arshavin believes Arsenal's end of season run-in gives them the edge in the race for the Premier League title.

Second-placed Arsenal trail leaders Manchester United by five points, with a game in hand, but have a much less congested schedule after being dumped out of the Carling Cup, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup.

Meanwhile, United face neighbours Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and must play both Arsenal and the Blues in the league next month.

Arsenal, who have not won a trophy for six years, only have the Premier League title still to play for and while Arshavin would prefer to be fighting on all fronts he feels a sole focus could be beneficial.

"I think our schedule is not so bad, that is why if we win all our games we have a good chance to be champions," Arshavin told Sky Sports News.

"I think everyone in our team would prefer to have more possibilities than only one trophy, but everything is in the past, that is why we have to concentrate on the Premier League matches.

"Straight after it was very difficult for everyone, but now we have come back after the internationals and have refreshed our minds and maybe it will help us. I think we are in the race."

Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign with a home clash against struggling Blackburn Rovers while United face a tricky trip to West Ham. Arshavin joked: "I met with Avram Grant yesterday, we had a chat and I have asked him to steal some points from Manchester United this weekend!"

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Redknapp: Man Utd winning title by default

Harry Redknapp says the poor form of Chelsea and Arsenal means they are "handing the title" to a Manchester United team he rates as one of the worst in recent times.

United extended their lead at the top of the table to five points on Saturday as Arsenal had to battle back from 2-0 down to draw with West Brom, and although Chelsea have improved, they are still nine points behind Sir Alex Ferguson's side with a game in hand.

The current leaders have not impressed with regularity this season, winning only four of 15 away games, and Tottenham boss Redknapp believes they could win their 19th league title virtually by default.

"Really we are handing the title to Manchester United this year," Redknapp said. "This is as poor as Manchester United have played in years, but they keep stumbling along and nicking results when they should have got done.

"Chelsea have blown up, Arsenal too - it is there for somebody this year to win the championship."

Though Tottenham's recent poor form means they have fallen to fifth place and are now struggling to ensure their qualification for the Champions League, Redknapp believes two high-profile signings could ensure the North Londoners are in title contention for next season.

"I don't think the other big clubs have got anything that Spurs don't have," he said. "People might think I'm mad to be aiming to win the league but I think it is possible.

"But if I do win one it will be a bit of a miracle, won't it? I think if I did then I'd probably retire. But I do think it is possible. If we can go and get a couple of Luka Modrics, people like that. We've got to believe we can achieve anything here."

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