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Draw feels like a defeat for Arsenal

Wenger’s decision to rest a clutch of first team regulars backfired

— Photo: AFP

THE SAVIOUR: Nicklas Bendtner’s strike in the 55th minute ensured Arsenal’s unbeaten home record, but a draw was not enough for the north Londoners.

LONDON: Arsenal’s faint Premier League title hopes were all but extinguished as it was 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 quarterfinal second leg tie at Anfield backfired as his makeshift side proved unable to overturn 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 Londoner, which still trails leader Manchester United by five points having now played a game more.

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

Later, Chelsea signalled its intention to United by cutting the champion’s lead at the top back to two points with a 2-0 win at Manchester City.

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 remains in comparison to its title rival. 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.

Limp display

Arsenal, it is true, was in an obliging mood. Wenger’s side has 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 its 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.

Snappier return

Arsenal emerged for the second half snappier in the tackle and brighter on the ball and within seven minutes of the re-start it was 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 host 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.

The results: Arsenal 1 (Bendtner 55) drew with Liverpool 1 (Crouch 42); Manchester City 0 lost to Chelsea 2 (Dunne 6-og, Kalou 53); Aston Villa 4 (Barry 9,60, Agbonlahor 56, Harewood 85) bt Bolton Wanderers 0; Blackburn Rovers 1 (Gamst Pedersen 30) drew with Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Berbatov 7); Fulham 1 (Healy 74) lost to Sunderland 3 (Collins 45, Chopra 54, Jones 76); Newcastle United 3 (Martins 18, Owen 43, Viduka 58) bt Reading 0; Wigan Athletic 2 (Taylor 15,55) bt Birmingham City 0. — Agencies

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