NWANERI ONLY HIGH SPOT FOR GUNNERS

Lacklustre draw deals title hopes fresh blow

- Ryan Taylor

BRIGHTON....1
Joao Pedro 61 (pen)

ARSENAL.....1
Nwaneri 16

TOOTHLESS Arsenal lost yet another life in the Premier League title race at Brighton – on a night where they did not even look capable of going the distance.

Seven draws after 20 matches is not the form of champions and Mikel Arteta’s unconvincing stars only had themselves to blame for carelessly surrendering all three points after Joao Pedro’s 61st-minute penalty cancelled out Ethan Nwaneri’s opener.

After the latter was subbed at the interval, Arsenal barely threatened besides a late header from Thomas Partey and when an inexperienced 17-year-old, making only his second league start, is your most dangerous player, there’s a problem.

Should Liverpool win both of their matches in hand, they would be 11 points clear at the summit – if they beat crisis-hit Manchester United they will have one hand on the trophy.

Throwing cash at a big-name striker might wreak of desperation but there is no denying Arsenal look flat in attack where they missed the ill Kai Havertz.