The Gunners slipped back into third place behind Chelsea on goal difference after they were unable to close out a pulsating north London derby at Tottenham on Wednesday despite leading 3-1 just before half-time.

Although Manchester United are now six points clear, they still have to travel to the Emirates Stadium on May 1 and then host Chelsea after their Champions League semi-final against Schalke.

Wenger maintains his men will fight until the bitter end, but opportunities are now running out.

Any more draws, following six out of the last nine in an unbeaten 16-game run, and you suspect the game will be up for another campaign which promised so much but again failed to deliver.

Wenger had to again defend the "remarkable attitude" of his young side in the face of more criticism they lacked the mental toughness to close out from winning positions.

By the time Arsenal run out at Bolton on Sunday afternoon, the deficit to United could be even greater should the latter beat Everton in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off at Old Trafford.

The Gunners boss, though, refuses to give up on what he now views as a wide open, three-way, five-match sprint for the championship.

"Chelsea are back in and they play Manchester United," he said.

"We have games we know we can win, at some stage it will be down to us. We will fight."

Despite the disappointment of the final result, Arsenal were at times irresistible going forwards, sweeping into an early lead inside five minutes through Theo Walcott before all-too-familiar frailties at the other end cost them dear.

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny - who conceded a second-half penalty when he tripped Aaron Lennon which allowed Spurs to level at 3-3 - maintains all is not lost as the Gunners should take great courage from their efforts in what was a high-octane affair at White Hart Lane.

"Of course we are fighting, when you play at White Hart Lane for Arsenal you give everything, 110%," he said.

"We came with a belief we were going to win, it did not happen for us, but we can be proud of our attitude.

"We played some fantastic attacking football, especially in the first half, and were probably unlucky to go into half-time with only a one-goal lead."

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas produced an all-action display against Spurs.

The Spain international hopes his new-found fitness levels will continue to the end of the season following a niggling hamstring problem.

Fabregas said on Twitter: "Personally I didn't feel as good as yesterday since the day I got injured vs Stoke.

"Hopefully it can continue till the end of the season.

"Credit to Spurs for not giving up and give us a real test. Now rest and ready for a big game Sunday at Bolton."