Are Arsenal out of the title race?

What a difference a few days can make. Little over a week ago, Arsenal were top of the league having come from behind to beat Bolton 4-2. After a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa and Sunday’s humiliation at the hands of Manchester United, they once again appear to have drifted off the pace after the champions and Chelsea collected full points in the same period.

United had fifty points before Sunday’s encounter while Arsenal were a mere one point behind Sir Alex Ferguson’s team, with both clubs desperate for a win in a bid to catch the current Premiership leaders Chelsea. Before the game on Sunday Sir Alex Ferguson said this was a game his team ‘needed to win’.

Arsenal entered Sunday’s match unbeaten in ten Premier League games and having missed the opportunity to return to the top of the table after the draw at Villa Park, the significance of the game could not have been lost on Arsene Wenger either. Manchester United had beaten Arsenal in their last four encounters but failed to win at the Emirates in the Premier League before Sunday.

Arsenal started the game well with Andrei Arshavin creating a couple of good early opportunities, however it quickly became apparent how much they miss a clinical striker to bury their chances. Playing without a recognised centre forward may work against some of the league’s lower lights, but not against the champions. They are badly missing Robin Van Persie.

Sure enough, they were punished after 32 minutes when Nani lifted the ball to the back post for Manuel Almunia to tip the ball to the back of the net. Minutes later man of the match Nani assisted Wayne Rooney in scoring his side’s second on the day, and his 100th Premier League goal.

Wayne Rooney’s outstanding performances of late have been well publicised, but perhaps more intriguing was the performance Ferguson got from Nani. Comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo continue and are inevitable, but the United’s manager persistence with a player apparently destined for the United scrap heap in the summer has paid off on Sunday’s evidence.

When Ji-Sung Park netted a third for Ferguson’s side in the 52^ndminute, the game was effectively over. Wenger will be concerned how much the Arsenal defence backed off allowing Park the opportunity to run through and defeat Almunia to put the game to bed. The knives now appear to be out for Gael Clichy in particular.

Cesc Fabregas led from the front as usual but Thomas Vermaelen’s 80th minute consolation was all his side had to show for their under par performance at the full time whistle. This defeat may not have been as crushing as last season’s Champions League semi-final at the Emirates, but it offered few signs that Wenger’s side has progressed as much as he claims it has.

Take nothing away from United’s superb performance, but Arsenal did little to surpress the thought that this may be a two horse title race. A win for Chelsea over Hull this evening would see Carlo Ancelotti’s side go eight points ahead of Arsenal and four ahead of United. Is this too much for the Gunners to make up?

Probably not. They have shown once already this season that they can reach the Premiership summit from behind. However, if they are to do it again, they need to beat Chelsea on Sunday. A three point gap with victory versus an eleven point with a defeat. It’s that simple. In order to secure the former, Wenger knows that his side can not afford a performance similar to Sunday’s.

Rachel Thompson

February 2, 2010