R.I.P title challenge, bring on Liverpool (again)

For me it is extremely hard to say this, so I'll take a deep breath, count to five and type it down......1....2....3....4....5....the title challenge is over. R.I.P title challenge.

I said I would NEVER give up till the end, but I'm throwing the towel in now. I'm so gutted right now and I look out the window see the snow fall and it reminds me of how Arsenal's title challenge has come tumbling down. (poetic!)

After dropping points against Liverpool yesterday, the gap between us and United is too big to close. Especially with the number of games remaining. And whats annoying is I bet 'Boro pull off a shock victory today! It would be typical!

The squad that Wenger has built at Arsenal is very very talented. There is no denying that. I feel though it's just the numbers that we lack. We have high quality just a lack of quantity.

There will be work for Wenger to do in the summer. I don't think a major overhaul is needed, far from it. If we can keep this squad together and add a couple more players to strengthen certain positions then Arsenal will be a major force to contend with.

The Premiership title race is a marathon, not a sprint and Arsenal sprinted out of the traps very quickly. United and Chelsea have squad's big enough to cope with marathons, Arsenal, at the moment, don't.

Perhaps we peaked to early in the season? It seems that way. But this season will undoubtedly provide the squad we have with the final piece of the puzzle. Experience.

With a couple more players added then Arsenal will be more than ready to last the distance next season. I'm certain of that.

So for this season, the title race is over. It was nice to be involved even if it may have ended slightly earlier than we would have liked. It's the first time since 2005 that we have been in the mixer and next season we will be more than capable of lasting the distance.

It should be even more interesting next season of course. I feel that it will be a four-horse race, with Liverpool coming into the mixer. They are only one or two players away from competing with ourselves, United and Chelsea too.

And talking of Liverpool, we of course have to play them (again!) on Tuesday.

So with the title gone, we turn our attentions to the do or die game in the Champions League on Tuesday. In fairness Liverpool should be dead and buried after Arsenal's performance in the second half of the first leg.

We should have been going to Anfield with the game as a formality. It is of course, not a formality. It will be a very very hard game. Liverpool will feel that they have the edge after the away goal, and rightly so.

I feel though that Arsenal most defiantly have a goal in them at Anfield. It will be a fantastic game and Arsenal will play as they always play. It will be interesting to see how Liverpool play though.

Will they come out and try to put the tie to bed? Or will they sit compact like they did at the Emirates content with the away goal that they have? I dont think that the Liverpool fans will be happy with the second option at home, or will they?!

I have every confidence in Arsenal going to Anfield and claiming a very famous European victory. It will be tough of course, but this game has become a must win for both sides as it is the only piece of silver-ware remaining for either.

And I hope that will be enough motivation for Arsenal to have. To come so far this season and end up potless would be a travesty.

Keep it Goonerish.....