Arsene Wenger’s hopes of guiding Arsenal to the Premier League title are in tatters after vDirk Kuyt’s last-gasp penalty earned a dramatic 1-1 draw for Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium yesterday. With new majority shareholder Stan Kroenke watching from the directors’ box, Wenger’s side appeared to have snatched a stoppage-time victory when Cesc Fabregas was tripped by Jay Spearing in the penalty area. Robin van Persie scored from the spot but Arsenal couldn’t keep their composure and there was more drama to come, with Lucas Leiva bundled over by Emmanuel Eboue in the 12th minute of added time and Kuyt converting the spot-kick.

It leaves Arsenal six points behind leaders Manchester United with six games for each side to play.

Wenger was furious with the penalty decision and said: “I feel hard done by at the end because time was over. Extra time should have been eight minutes.

“And I don’t think it was a penalty at all but Lucas played in an intelligent way, he stopped his run in front of Emmanuel Eboue. But we have to take it and continue to fight.”

The hosts were able to recall Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny after a finger injury, while defender Johan Djourou returned from a dislocated shoulder despite being ruled out for the season when he picked up the problem.

Another goalless draw for Arsenal appeared unlikely during a burst of goalmouth action which saw Laurent Koscielny heading against the crossbar. Van Persie also had the ball in the net but the Dutch forward had been ruled offside.

After the break Dalglish’s team threatened to take the lead when Luis Suarez went on a run and curled his finish just wide. He also tested Szczesny with a long-range effort. Jamie Carragher, however, needed to be substituted after smacking into Flanagan and getting carried off on a stretcher in need of oxygen and a neck brace.

That accounted for the long period of injury-time, with Van Persie opening the scoring before Kuyt’s leveller with the final kick of the game.