Arsenal boss still upbeat about title chances (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Arsenal boss still upbeat about title chances

8:44am Monday 22nd December 2008 in

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ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger knows full well that no prizes are handed out for being top at Christmas - and he remains convinced the teams above the Gunners will slip up as his men battle to get themselves back into the title race next year.

The north Londoners remain eight points off the pace following Sunday's 1-1 draw with leaders Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, where they played the final half hour with 10 men after striker Emmanuel Adebayor was sent off.

But the Gunners boss maintained: "The title is won in May and we are in December. Mathematically we will fight until the end. I believe Liverpool will drop many points. I am convinced of that."

He added: "They had four draws at home. That means they dropped eight points, why shouldn't they drop eight more in the second half of the season?"

Robin van Persie had fired Arsenal ahead with a fine strike after 24 minutes, only for former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane to equalise ahead of the interval when the home defence failed to deal with a high ball up field.

The flash point, though, came on the hour when referee Howard Webb showed Adebayor his second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa.

The African striker hit out at Liverpool defender Arbeloa for acting like he had been "knifed", as he fell to the ground dramatically clutching his face.

Replays suggested Adebayor had indeed gone in with a raised boot, rather than a flaying arm, and as such probably merited another caution.

He said: "I cannot say he cheated, but what he did wasn't fair play at all.

"The defender threw himself on the floor as if I put a knife in him."

© Press Association 2008