Wenger still has hopes of title challenge

Arsene Wenger is refusing to give up on Arsenal’s Barclays Premier League title challenge despite their frustrating draw at home to Liverpool.

Saturday’s point came shortly before a heartening 2-0 win for Chelsea at Manchester City – helping the Blues consolidate second place behind Manchester United.

But Wenger retains hope, having seen Nicklas Bendtner’s 53rd-minute equaliser earn a draw after Peter Crouch gave the Reds the lead.

“In my brain it is not over, because it is not over mathematically,” Wenger said of the title race.

After a second 1-1 outcome in four days between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium – they meet again in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Anfield on tomorrow – Wenger said: “It is frustrating again because I feel we had a blatant penalty again for a foul on (Cesc) Fabregas, which was not given.”

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was happy with a point.

“For both teams, today was important – for us to be closer to the top four and for Arsenal to be in the race for the title,” he said.

Chelsea coach Avram Grant is delighted with the Blues’ progress, which continued with an own goal from City’s Richard Dunne and a second from Salomon Kalou eight minutes after the break at Eastlands.

“For the past three months, we have won almost 80% of our league games,” he noted.

“That is the record of champions, and we have come a long way when you consider a lot of clubs were ahead of us during the season.”

City defender Nedum Onuoha suffered a dislocated shoulder and a suspected broken wrist after falling badly.

Bolton boss Gary Megson remains optimistic of beating the drop – even after a 4-0 mauling at Aston Villa.

Two goals from Gareth Barry – along with one each from Gabriel Agbonlahor and Marlon Harewood – helped Villa claim their first win in four matches, while Megson’s side have taken only one point from their last eight fixtures.

“The fact is we are on an awful run – which has seen us slip into this position,” said Megson.

“But I don’t think anyone is giving up – and I would be disappointed if that was the case.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill was relieved after an overdue win, admitting: “We had hit the buffers.

“We played so well at Arsenal a month ago – and if someone had said then we would collect only one more point from the next four games, I would not have believed it.”

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes felt his side were denied a late penalty during their 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Ewood Park.

Hughes thought Rovers midfielder David Bentley was impeded by Spurs substitute Gilberto eight minutes from time.

Rovers had come from behind, with Bentley setting up a Morten Gamst Pedersen equaliser after an early Dimitar Berbatov goal.

Hughes said: “It was a penalty. David has picked up the ball in the midfield area and burst forward with real purpose at the heart of their defence.

“The guy has obviously stood in front of him and actually made a move with his leg to make sure David went down.”

Spurs boss Juande Ramos said: “I think we should maybe have settled the game in the first half.”

Manager Roy Keane is warning Sunderland are still not clear of relegation worries, after their 3-1 win over strugglers Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Sunderland’s third successive win came on the back of a Danny Collins opener on the stroke of half-time, a second from Michael Chopra and then a third from Kenwyne Jones – after David Healy had pulled one back for the Cottagers.

“It gives us a chance – but obviously we need to get over that finishing line,” said Keane.

“We can still be caught.”

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson was consoled only by other relegation candidates losing as well.

“It was a game we had to win – and coming in 1-0 down at half-time was unbelievably cruel after the way the first half went,” he observed.

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan is planning a rousing finish to the season in a bid to avoid an unwanted record.

The Magpies took their points total to 38 with a 3-0 victory over Reading.

But with five games still to play, Keegan is determined to better the 43-point return which cost Glenn Roeder his job last season.

“I don’t want to be manager of this club and finish with less than 43 points, which is the lowest total they have ever got,” said Keegan.

Obafemi Martins’ 18th-minute strike came against the run of play, and it was 2-0 at the break after Michael Owen claimed his 10th goal of the season – Mark Viduka completing the scoring 13 minutes after the interval.

Reading boss Steve Coppell could not quite believe his side were behind at the break.

“After 45 minutes or the first 20 minutes, I thought we were looking the better team. We had a little bit more purpose,” he said.

Steve Bruce discounted suggestions Wigan are safe from relegation, despite their 2-0 win over former club Birmingham.

Ryan Taylor scored both goals at the JJB Stadium, but Bruce insisted: “We can’t say that we’re safe until it’s mathematically safe.”

Blues boss Alex McLeish had few complaints with captain Damien Johnson’s red card for a reckless two-footed lunge on Kevin Kilbane

“The lunge has been outlawed in the game. More and more referees are now showing a red card, regardless of contact or not,” he said.