ARSENE WENGER last night admitted Arsenal can all but write off their title hopes after losing to leaders Manchester City. The defeat leaves the Gunners 12 points off the summit and, even though there are still 22 games to go, the Emirates chief knows it is a huge gap.
Wenger said his team could have put themselves right back in the shake-up by beating Roberto Mancini's men.
But instead they have a mountain to climb after David Silva's second-half strike settled a close game.
Wenger said: "At the moment it will be difficult to close the gap on City.
"Unfortunately, it's a game we couldn't afford to lose because it puts us too far behind City.
"If we had won the game it would have put us six points behind and with our full-backs coming back plus Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby.
"We will have a better squad in the second half of the season.
"We will obviously try but this is a game we couldn't afford to lose and that's why its difficult to take.
"We will continue to fight and there were a lot of positives.
At the moment we need encouragement and points and we have only encouragement."
Wenger insists his Gunners have made huge strides to get back on track after a nightmare start to the season.
And, even though this setback shows they have some way still to go, Wenger is convinced they will get there.
The Frenchman added: "The team has made a lot of progress since August and can be proud of it. The team has a fantastic spirit and we have shown that again here at City.
"Let's hope we can continue our progress and get closer to the top sides.
"Overall we had a positive performance, great spirit and quality. But we lacked a little bit and that's vital in the big games."
Wenger is desperately short in the full-back positions and he had to play four centre-halves across the back.
Even then they were hit by an injury to Johan Djourou but Wenger insisted:
"We had the chances and it's difficult to take. But we can be encouraged by our performance.
"It didn't help to lose Johan and we had to move the whole defence around. We are short on the flanks and every injury at the back is detrimental to our performance.
"Koscielny, Djourou and Vermaelen did remarkably well but the trouble is they are all centre-backs.
"Having said all that, this is a good basis to build from. Both teams played positively and that's why the game was interesting. It was also intense physically.
"I felt we were a bit unlucky and their keeper had a good game.
"I felt at half-time we could win the game if we remained stable at the back. But it was not to be."
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