Arsenal cry out of contention

AND then there were three: or ‘four’ if you seriously consider that Aston Villa have a chance of winning the league title this season. I don’t.

However, I’m as sure as I can be that Arsenal’s chances have gone for good. They needed to beat Liverpool to remain in contention but never looked remotely likely to once Robbie Keane had scored a quite brilliant equaliser shortly before half time.

You’ve no hope of being champions if you’ve lost five games before Christmas and find yourself at least eight points behind the leaders — Chelsea can make that nine tonight if they win at Everton.

And they “went down” weeping and screaming against Liverpool led, sadly, by Arsene Wenger. He’s such a brilliant manager, it makes all the harder to accept the childish views he so often exhibits.

Wenger threw a tantrum when Adebayor was sent off, yet it was the right decision. The striker drove his boot into the shin of Arbeloa and, for good measure, thrust a hand into his face. It should have been a straight red never mind a second yellow.

But the Frenchman spat out his dummy, stamped his feet and yelled protest — “they’re all against us!” Pathetic: and, worse, it sparked accompanying feeling from a home support already richly fuelled by the frustration of knowing, basically, their side isn’t good enough. Arsenal couldn’t have complained if Liverpool had taken all three points.

This was a point won by Liverpool rather than two squandered like those against Hull last weekend. They were missing their manager, recuperating after an operation; their brilliant striker Torres, still coming back from injury; and the world’s best holding midfield player , Mascherano, who was unwell.

And Arsenal? They’ll be without the suspended Adebayor and, most likely, the injured Fabregas for the game on St Stephen’s day away to the team that wants to supplant them in the top four — Aston Villa.