Arsene Wenger feels league heat as Arsenal crash

[Folami David]

Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal are in danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 16 years after the Gunners crashed to a 2-1 defeat at bitter rivals Tottenham.
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Wenger's side are languishing seven points behind third placed Spurs and five adrift of fourth placed Chelsea as they paid the price for a mad two minutes at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
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After making a confident start to a crucial north London derby, Arsenal went into meltdown towards the end of the first half, allowing Gareth Bale to continue his purple patch with a clinical finish before Aaron Lennon burst clear to bag Tottenham's second goal moments later.
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Per Mertesacker reduced the deficit soon after the interval but Arsenal couldn't find the equaliser despite piling on the pressure in the closing stages.
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It was the latest setback in a traumatic season for Wenger, who conceded Arsenal have a serious fight on their hands to finish in the top four.
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"It will be difficult to come in the top four now as we dropped points we couldn't afford to drop," Wenger said.
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"I said before the game we couldn't drop these points and I stand by that. It's a massive challenge but it's still possible to finish fourth so we will fight for it, that's for sure."
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This has been by far the worst season of Wenger's 17-year reign in north London, with embarrassing cup defeats to Bradford and Blackburn and a series of lacklustre league displays provoking anger from fans infuriated by the club's eight-year run without a trophy.
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It is especially vexing for Wenger that his players seem to save their most nervous displays for the biggest occasions.
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"When you go into a big game like that and are 2-0 down you make it difficult for yourself," Wenger said.
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"It happened to us many times this season and always in big games. I cannot fault the attitude the team produced but you can't give yourself a mountain to climb every time.