LONDON (AP)
ARSENAL AND Manchester United ground out a tedious 0-0 draw yesterday for a result that delighted runaway English league leader Chelsea.
Needing a victory to cut Chelsea's lead to 11 points, United was frustrated by a Gunners side that seemed intent on avoiding defeat, foiled in its last attempt when Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue kicked a Wes Brown header off the line in the final minute.
The result left United in second place with 45 points from 21 games, 13 points behind Jose Mourinho's Chelsea.
Without conceding the title to Chelsea, United manager Alex Ferguson said the Blues were comfortably atop the league by playing consistently rather than with style.
"I don't think the quality of their game has been raised in any way," Ferguson said. "They have obtained that great consistency and they don't care if they win games 1-0. They are happy to grind out the 1-0s and they have been excellent defensively."
WINNING THE TITLE
Although Arsenal climbed one place to fifth, Arsene Wenger's team is 24 points behind the leader with virtually no chance of winning the title.
After four consecutive victories in league and cup play and chasing a fourth straight shut-out, the Gunners fielded five players in midfield with just Thierry Henry up front.
With United also massed in midfield, the game lacked the thrills of past encounters between the two English soccer powerhouses.
"I wanted to win, but the game was a high pace and I felt both teams were trying to have a break and get the other one on a counter attack," said Wenger, who believed his team should have had a penalty for a foul on Gary Neville on Cesc Fabregas.
"We created a few chances they did on set pieces as well. I think it was a penalty on Fabregas when Neville tackled him from behind in the box."
In League Championship action, second place Sheffield United won 3-1 at Hull to cut Reading's lead to seven points.
