London: Arsenal and Manchester City ground out a 0-0 draw Saturday which mathematically killed off the Gunners' Premier League title hopes and left City stuck in fifth.
Making his first start since November 7 after a long injury layoff, Robin van Persie almost snatched an 86th-minute winner at Emirates Stadium with a free kick that shaved the post after City had lost goalkeeper Shay Given with a dislocated shoulder.
With only two games to play, Arsenal has 72 points and is seven behind leader Manchester United, which beat Tottenham 3-1 earlier Saturday. Failure to win means that Arsenal will end the campaign without a trophy for the fifth season in a row.
"It was an afternoon I must say I'm not used to," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. "We created very few chances and Manchester City didn't create anything. They were highly focused on defending well and we could not find the opener. And, as long as we couldn't do that, it was a locked game."
Despite Tottenham's loss, City is still a point behind Spurs in fight for fourth place and the last Champions League spot.
"I think it was the right result. I don't play for a draw, never," said City manager Roberto Mancini. "We have another three games and they will decide the season."
Patrick Vieira, who won three league titles with Arsenal, returned as an opponent but received a warm welcome from the home fans before kickoff because of his great service to Wenger's team.
In a first half lacking imaginative play and goal chances, Man City's former Arsenal defender, Kolo Toure, twice blocked shots from Van Persie before Given blocked an angled drive from Samir Nasri.
After a tedious first half, the introduction of Emmanuel Adebayor for Vieira increased the noise levels in the crowd and also opened up the game.
Adebayor, who ran the length of the field to celebrate his goal in Man City's victory over Arsenal at Eastlands in front of the Gunners' fans, trotted on to a chorus of boos from the local supporters. They then applauded Vieira as their former midfield favorite went off.
"He made it a bit lively because our supporters also got lively and he was focused and motivated and sharp and he won some long balls," Wenger said. "Even then, they didn't commit a lot and relied on counter attacks."
Given is likely to miss the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder in the 75th minute when he dived low to his left to fingertip a shot from Abou Diaby round the post. The Ireland goalkeeper was carried off in tears, receiving oxygen with his arm being held in a brace. He was replaced by Faeroe Islands international Gunnar Nielsen making his first appearance.
The injury left Mancini resigned to playing the last three games without Given.
"Shay's injury will be a problem," Mancini said. "It's not good for us because Shay is a fantastic goalkeeper. ... Shay is in hospital, but we have 10 days and must play three big games. Gunnar came on and did very well."
Van Persie almost scored with a curling 22-meter free kick which shaved the top of the post in the 86th minute.
The officials added on eight extra minutes largely because of the treatment given to Given and, despite Arsenal's late pressure, the well organized Man City defense protected Nielsen well.
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