Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits the twists and turns in this season's title race means he is unable to judge whether his side, who sit third, remain in contention.
His team went ahead 1-0 against fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby on Saturday, only to fall back behind 2-1 after Francis Coquelin was sent off for a second yellow on 55 minutes.
A 76th-minute equaliser saved a point at White Hart Lane for Arsenal, however, keeping them within three points of second-placed Spurs. With leaders Leicester City winning later though against Watford, Arsenal are now eight points off the title pace and could dip to fourth if Manchester City, trailing Wenger’s men by two, take all three points from their game in hand.
“I don’t know because I don’t know what to say anymore about that,” Wenger said of his team’s remaining title chances.
“Everybody drops points so let’s see what happens over the weekend. I think we have to take encouragement from our performance today and reproduce that until the end of the season and we might have a chance.
“Maybe yes, it is our best chance to win the title. Last year we had no chance.
Read more: As in derby thriller, Arsenal are still playing catch up in title race, writes Greg Lea
Also see: Facing rout, West Ham respond – and can now envision Champions League future
“Three or four years ago I think we were in the race. It shows the team has quality and spirit and our balance was right today.”
Wenger admitted Coquelin was rightly dismissed and criticised his player for collecting two yellow cards, but insisted Spurs’ Eric Dier should also have been sent off.
“I hate to say a lot to Francis after that tackle. He knows. He knows he made a big mistake,” Wenger said.
“We knew at half-time, we warned him as well. It was a mistake. He wanted to do well and mistimed his tackle and got sent off.
“He made a mistake and he has quickly to learn from that. At the top level it is full commitment and 100 per cent but in a controlled way.
“When you have a yellow card he made a mistake to go down on the tackle.
“I cannot complain about it. I can complain that Dier was not sent off. I couldn’t understand that.”
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