Wenger concedes title challenge
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has all but conceded they're out of the title race after last night's poor 2-1 defeat to Fulham.
The Gunners trail leaders Manchester United by 16 points following the hot-tempered London derby at Craven Cottage, which saw Philippe Senderos dismissed for two bookings.
The defensive lapses that surfaced in their previous two away games - defeats by West Ham and Bolton - were apparent when Brian McBride headed in after six minutes.
Tomasz Radzinski doubled the lead, injuring himself in the process by crashing into the advertising hoardings, and the hosts held on despite a 30-yard free kick from Robin van Persie.
"I will leave the mathematics of the title to you," said Wenger, who reportedly slipped over during his post-match media duties.
"We will now go away and focus on the next game.
"We never expected defeat. It was played at a high pace but we gave it everything and created chances. So I'm not disappointed with the way we played.
"It was our third away defeat in a row, and as against West Ham and Bolton we could have had the points. At the moment it doesn't go for us."
Thierry Henry had an effort disallowed for offside in the second half, and Wenger felt aggrieved after another decision went against his team.
"It was decisive, and I must say the coincidences of the decisions against us at the moment are very peculiar," the Frenchman said.
"We can put it together with the penalty at West Ham.
"But we have to play with it. We cannot influence the referee."
The Gunners trail leaders Manchester United by 16 points following the hot-tempered London derby at Craven Cottage, which saw Philippe Senderos dismissed for two bookings.
The defensive lapses that surfaced in their previous two away games - defeats by West Ham and Bolton - were apparent when Brian McBride headed in after six minutes.
Tomasz Radzinski doubled the lead, injuring himself in the process by crashing into the advertising hoardings, and the hosts held on despite a 30-yard free kick from Robin van Persie.
"I will leave the mathematics of the title to you," said Wenger, who reportedly slipped over during his post-match media duties.
"We will now go away and focus on the next game.
"We never expected defeat. It was played at a high pace but we gave it everything and created chances. So I'm not disappointed with the way we played.
"It was our third away defeat in a row, and as against West Ham and Bolton we could have had the points. At the moment it doesn't go for us."
Thierry Henry had an effort disallowed for offside in the second half, and Wenger felt aggrieved after another decision went against his team.
"It was decisive, and I must say the coincidences of the decisions against us at the moment are very peculiar," the Frenchman said.
"We can put it together with the penalty at West Ham.
"But we have to play with it. We cannot influence the referee."
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