18 April,2011 08:24 AM IST | | AFP
Liverpool ace Kuyt's last-minute penalty in 1-1 draw dents Arsenal's title hopes Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt (centre) scores from the penalty spot against Arsenal during yesterday's English Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium in London. The game ended 1-1. PIC/AFP
Arsene Wenger's hopes of guiding Arsenal to the Premier League title are in tatters after Dirk Kuyt's last-gasp penalty earned a dramatic 1-1 draw for Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.
Wenger's side appeared to have snatched a stoppage-time victory when Cesc Fabregas was tripped by Jay Spearing in the penalty area. Robin van Persie scored from the spot but Arsenal couldn't keep their composure and there was more drama to come, with Lucas Leiva bundled over by Emmanuel Eboue in the 12th minute of added time and Kuyt converting the spot-kick.
It leaves Arsenal six points behind leaders Manchester United with six games for each side to play and the Gunners' confidence sure to dip even further after three consecutive draws on their own turf.
"Essentially we have cup final after cup final now," was Wenger's assessment of his team's title chances when he wrote his programme notes.
But they were unable to rise to the occasion and a season that at one stage could have delivered a quadruple will now almost certainly end up with nothing to celebrate.
