Arsenal's Premier League title hopes are over

LONDON, April 5: Arsenal's faint Premier League title hopes were all but extinguished as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Liverpool on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's decision to rest a clutch of first team regulars ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg tie at Anfield back-fired as his makeshift side proved unable to over-turn Peter Crouch's opening goal.

Nicklas Bendtner preserved Arsenal's unbeaten home record with a 55th-minute equaliser but a draw was not enough for the north Londoners, who still trail leaders Manchester United by five points having now played a game more.

Liverpool, meanwhile, departed content. Rafael Benitez's team not only tightened their grip on fourth place and Champions League qualification but the Spaniard's decision to field a largely reserve side should ensure they are fresh for their European decider.

Benitez's decision to make eight changes was no surprise. Wenger's decision to make five was, however, given the manager had suggested he required wins in all his remaining league games to prevent his sputtering title hopes from being completely snuffed out.

His line-up only succeeded in revealing how woefully short on depth Arsenal remain in comparison to their title rivals. Liverpool's reserves appeared to relish the opportunity to impress on one of the division's grander stages and they duly dominated the first half.

Crouch, in particular, performed as if determined to make up for the time he has lost sat on the sidelines this season. He stung Manuel Almunia's fingertips with a raking 25-yard drive and then teed up John Arne Riise for a glorious chance, only for the Norwegian to blaze over with his right foot.

Arsenal, it is true, were in an obliging mood. Wenger's side have rarely delivered such a limp display on home soil and when Yossi Benayoun broke onto Lucas's pass and dragged wide, the home support began to grow audibly restless.

That let-off did spark a mini-revival. In a frenetic four-minute spell, Cesc Fabregas pulled wide from 20 yards, Bendtner shot tamely at Pepe Reina and Steve Finnan was forced into a desperate clearance from Emmanuel Eboue's cross.

But in their eagerness to attack, Arsenal forgot how to defend. Three minutes before half-time, a long punt downfield from Reina was nodded by Crouch to Benayoun. Crouch charged on to the Israeli's return pass, twisted inside William Gallas and crunched into the bottom corner for his first away league goal of the season.

Wenger stalked off at half-time looking as if he was chewing a wasp, but some pointed words during the interval had the desired effect. Arsenal emerged for the second half snappier in the tackle and brighter on the ball and within seven minutes of the re-start they were level, Bendtner atoning for his earlier aberration by heading in Fabregas' free-kick.

Arsenal's sense of urgency was renewed. Wenger sent on Emmanuel Adebayor and Gael Clichy and the hosts gradually began to dominate possession. Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini both saw long-range drives bravely blocked while the Frenchman also deflected wide from Clichy's near-post cross.

By now the game was painfully stretched. Arsenal's determination to snatch a second goal left gaping holes at the back, and Andriy Voronin should have done far better than lob over the crossbar after being set up by Crouch with 10 minutes left.

A goal then would have secured Liverpool's first win in these parts for seven years but, at the final whistle, a draw still felt like a defeat for Arsenal.