Wenger: Title race wide open

Arsenal's Arsene Wenger claimed that the title race was an open contest after the 3-3 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Gunners surrendered a 3-1 lead as the North London rivals played out a pulsating derby at White Hart Lane, writes Stewart Coggin.
After Rafael van der Vaart had made it 1-1 early on following Theo Walcott's 5th minute strike, the Gunners moved into overdrive and went 3-1 up through Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie.
Tom Huddlestone's low shot gave Spurs hope before half-time and they secured the point their strong second half performance deserved when the impressive Van der Vaart levelled from the spot after Aaron Lennon had been brought down in the area by Wojciech Szczesny. Despite trailing leaders Manchester United by six points and losing second position to Chelsea on goal difference, Wenger believes his side remain in the title hunt.

"It's completely open," he said. "We have to get ready for our next game and fight.
"This team has a remarkable attitude even if at the moment we are not rewarded with the number of points. They are remarkably consistent because with an average game we would not have got away with a point.
"We are on a 16-match unbeaten run but recently we did not get enough points, too many draws, and this is what we want to turn around until the end of the season."
Wenger felt that his side deserved to go in at half-time with more than a one-goal lead after a commanding first 45 minutes.
"It's disappointing because we had the lead and at 3-1 we were pulled back," he added.
"But the attitude was fantastic and we played the game we wanted to play. I feel we dropped physically in the second half and you could see that the Liverpool game had a bearing.
"The second goal came unexpectedly and quickly. After that it was an exciting game where both teams could have won it. It's frustrating that we conceded three goals because overall, particularly in the first-half we controlled the game completely, and to be at 3-2 I don't think reflected the first half.
"I don't think they created a lot in the first half at all and I feel as well that we scored a goal that was not offside."
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp was left to marvel at one of the most exciting Barclays Premier League matches of the season and paid tribute to both teams.

"It was a fantastic game of football," he said. "Two good teams and a real classic I thought. I enjoyed it, but not when they were 3-1 up, I thought we were in real trouble. But we came back, got the goal before half-time, could have got a penalty and then I thought we were excellent in the second half and had the chances to win it in the end. Their keeper's made a couple of saves and we could easily have won it.
"We were pushing forward, they were hitting us on the counter and it was two teams slugging it out for a win. It was a great game.
"The football Arsenal played in the first spell was frightening and we had to hang in there and try and stay with them. Then we came back strongly. We picked an open team and they outnumbered us in midfield in the first half because I picked two strikers."