Arsenal’s title ambitions in tatters

ARSENE WENGER may just have to face his own “moment of truth” after defeat at Fulham all but ended Arsenal’s hopes of forcing their way into the Barclays Premiership title race.

The Gunners boss had admitted his team were entering a crucial phase of the campaign, both domestically and in Europe.

With little margin for error following the weekend loss at Bolton, this 2-1 reverse at Craven Cottage looks set to prove fatal.

The decision to rest several first-team regulars — with one eye on both Saturday’s north London derby against Tottenham and next week’s Champions League trip to Porto — proved unwise as Fulham rose to the challenge.

An early goal from Brian McBride set the tone for the evening, before Tomas Radzinski swept in a second from close range.

Although Robin van Persie reduced the deficit before half-time with a brilliant 30-yard free-kick, even the introduction of Theo Walcott could not save Arsenal – who finished the game with 10 men following Philippe Senderos’ dismissal for a second yellow card.

“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.”

Wenger rested a number of first-choice players but was made to rue the decision, with Alexander Song taken off at half-time.

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 home side took the lead inside six minutes.

From Claus Jensen’s left-wing corner, Brian McBride got ahead of his markers to meet the ball at the near post, and flick it over Jens Lehmann and past Mathieu Flamini on the line.

Arsenal were soon back on the offensive.

Captain Thierry Henry, fit again following a neck problem, looked menacing again down the left, as he cut inside before drilling an angled strike over the bar.

Unlike many of the sides which had come to the Emirates Stadium and sat back, The Cottagers looked anything but content to defend their advantage on home soil.

On 19 minutes Captain Luis Boa Morte tricked his way past Alexander Song with a sublime backheel before dashing to the bye-line and pulling the ball across. Tomasz Radzinski arrived at the far post ahead of Flamini to double Fulham’s lead with a tap-in.

It should have been 3-0 and game over just after the half hour when Boa Morte dashed clear of the Arsenal

defence, with more than a suspicion of offside.

Lehmann narrowed the angle and stood tall to make a crucial block.

Arsenal pulled a goal back nine minutes before the break through a stunning free-kick from van Persie.

Liam Rosenior upended Alexander Hleb, and was booked for his troubles.

The young Dutchman lined up a full 30 yards out, slightly right of centre, and curled a breathtaking left-foot effort around the wall and into the far corner.

Jensen was just off target with his chance from a free-kick as the match became somewhat scrappy.

McBride forced another good stop from Lehmann, this time at his near post, as the hosts finished the half on top.

Wenger called for Cesc Fabregas at the restart, with Song taken off — and the Gunners looked lively.

Henry thought he had levelled after collecting a trademark crossfield pass and driving an angled shot past Antti Niemi from the left. However, the assistant’s flag had already been raised in what looked a marginal call at best.

As the hour mark approached, neither the tempo nor the edge to the match looked like dropping.

Tomas Rosicky was given a rest, with England starlet Theo Walcott sent in to inject some pace down the Arsenal right.

On 63 minutes, the visitors were reduced to 10 men when centre-half Senderos received a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Boa Morte just outside the penalty area.

The Fulham captain was within inches of restoring his side’s two-goal advantage — but the free-kick rattled back off the crossbar with Lehmann rooted to the spot.

Arsenal had to take risks, and continually left themselves open on the quick counterattack.

However, The visitors almost snatched an equaliser when Walcott’s first-time shot from the edge of the Fulham penalty area struck the outside base of the post as the Gunners rallied.

Tempers were close to boiling point in the closing stages, Flamini and McBride both being cautioned for their part in a touchline tussle.

Henry nearly connected with Walcott’s low centre and the Gunners were left to reflect on what might have been as their title dreams faded.

The result will no doubt have been greeted with just as much jubilation in the blue camp a few miles down the Fulham Road.

FULHAM: Niemi, Volz, Christanval, Knight, Rosenior, Brown, Boa Morte, Radzinski (Routledge 46), Diop, Claus Jensen, McBride (Helguson 76).

ARSENAL: Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Senderos, Flamini, Rosicky (Walcott 61), Song Billong (Fabregas 46), Silva, Hleb (Djourou 65), Henry, Van Persie.

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).