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Wenger rues lack of maturity but insists title isn't over

Arsene Wenger was a frustrated figure at White Hart Lane © Getty Images

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted the Gunners faced a very tough task to catch Chelsea at the top of the table.

Wednesday night's 2-1 loss to arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane left the Gunners six points adrift of Chelsea with a vastly inferior goal difference, and only four games now remain.

But Wenger stopped short of saying his side had no chance of lifting the Premier League title this season, although he did point to a lack of experience in his side. He said: ''It will be difficult, yes, now of course. We'll continue to fight but it makes it very difficult.

''As long as it's not mathematically impossible it is not impossible. Our job is to fight and we will do that. But even if they drop points we are far (behind).'

"We lost a game we couldn't afford to in the title race and that shows we are not mature enough. If you want to win a championship you can't lose this type of game."

The Gunners lost Thomas Vermaelen to injury with Wenger revealing the defender had suffered a calf strain, estimating he would be out for three weeks.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said: ''It was a great result for us on the back of a big down on Sunday. It knocked us all for six. To play like that after Sunday is fantastic. The crowd want to beat Arsenal more than anybody. They were right with us tonight.

''We hung in there late on and the keeper made some fantastic saves. He was superb tonight. Everybody worked hard and it was a great result.''

Redknapp, though, did not feel his side faced undue pressure until late on.

''They started well,'' he added. ''They kept the ball but it was only late in the game the keeper came to our rescue. They had a lot of the ball but they had few clear-cut chances.''

Tottenham captain Ledley King admitted his side's win was ''massive'' in their bid to claim fourth spot.

King told Sky Sports 1: ''It's massive. Coming off a disappointing result in the (FA) Cup, it was a good time to play Arsenal. We had no time to dwell on that. We knew we had this coming up. I've seen the table and it's a big, big result for us.

''It was important we bounced back: we feel we can beat anyone at home.''

Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes said after his late heroics secured the points: ''It's a good performance for me but it is not the most important. When I can make saves like I did today (in every match) then it is most important.

''We played very well. We have a chance (for fourth).''

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