Arsenal wasted a golden opportunity to close the gap at the top of the Premier League when they squandered a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Tottenham Hotspur in a thrilling London derby on Wednesday.
Champions Chelsea kept alive their slim chance of retaining the title with a routine 3-1 home win
over Birmingham City.
Manchester United top the standings on 70 points, six ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal, who slipped to third, with five matches left.
Arsenal, who conceded a penalty deep into stoppage time to draw with Liverpool on Sunday, were again left to rue the concession of a late spot-kick as their hopes of a first trophy for six years suffered another blow.
"It is not over, we have to fight and continue to battle," manager Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports. "We had an outstanding first half and in the second we dropped physically because we had a difficult game on Sunday.
"Maybe the second goal was decisive becasue we needed to go with a two-goal difference at halftime. We had an outstanding spirit and we need to keep battling until the last day."
Arsenal started fast at White Hart Lane and struck after five minutes when Cesc Fabregas played Theo Walcott through and he slid the ball past Heurelho Gomes for his 12th goal of the season.
CRAFTED GOAL
Arsenal led for only 90 seconds before Spurs scored another finely crafted goal when Vedran Corluka crossed for Dutchman Rafael Van der Vaart to lash the ball past Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny from the edge of the box.
Arsenal have now dropped 13 points from winning positions this season, and with five matches to play, trail Manchester United by six points.
United lead the standings with 70 points, six clear of both Chelsea and Arsenal and need only 10 points from their last five matches to secure a record 19th title.
Arsenal's next match is on Sunday at Bolton, who will be keen to make up for their 5-0 drubbing by Stoke City in the FA Cup semi-final last Sunday.
ALL TO PLAY FOR
Manchester United, who drew 0-0 with Newcastle on Tuesday, are the first side in action on Saturday when they face Everton in a lunchtime kickoff at Old Trafford where they have won 15 of their 16 League games and drawn the other.
Chelsea have emerged as United's closest challengers, showing many of the qualities that made them champions by demolishing Birmingham on Wednesday.
They face their old manager Avram Grant and his relegation-threatened West Ham side at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Like Wenger, Ancelotti believes the title is still there to be won.
"Obviously I would like to be in United's position, six points ahead," he said.
"That's a lot at this stage of the season, but in football anything can happen right up until the final whistle. You can win the title in the last minute and you can lose the title in the last minute."
While Wednesday's match at White Hart Lane dented Arsenal's title hopes, it also did little for Spurs' chances of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League.
Like last season they are in a two-way battle with Manchester City for fourth spot, and trail them by two points with both teams having six games to play.
Spurs are at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday while Manchester City, buoyed by beating Manchester United and reaching their first FA Cup final for 30 years last weekend, visit out-of-form Blackburn Rovers on Monday.
Champions Chelsea kept alive their slim chance of retaining the title with a routine 3-1 home win
over Birmingham City.
Manchester United top the standings on 70 points, six ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal, who slipped to third, with five matches left.
Arsenal, who conceded a penalty deep into stoppage time to draw with Liverpool on Sunday, were again left to rue the concession of a late spot-kick as their hopes of a first trophy for six years suffered another blow.
"It is not over, we have to fight and continue to battle," manager Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports. "We had an outstanding first half and in the second we dropped physically because we had a difficult game on Sunday.
"Maybe the second goal was decisive becasue we needed to go with a two-goal difference at halftime. We had an outstanding spirit and we need to keep battling until the last day."
Arsenal started fast at White Hart Lane and struck after five minutes when Cesc Fabregas played Theo Walcott through and he slid the ball past Heurelho Gomes for his 12th goal of the season.
CRAFTED GOAL
Arsenal led for only 90 seconds before Spurs scored another finely crafted goal when Vedran Corluka crossed for Dutchman Rafael Van der Vaart to lash the ball past Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny from the edge of the box.
Arsenal have now dropped 13 points from winning positions this season, and with five matches to play, trail Manchester United by six points.
United lead the standings with 70 points, six clear of both Chelsea and Arsenal and need only 10 points from their last five matches to secure a record 19th title.
Arsenal's next match is on Sunday at Bolton, who will be keen to make up for their 5-0 drubbing by Stoke City in the FA Cup semi-final last Sunday.
ALL TO PLAY FOR
Manchester United, who drew 0-0 with Newcastle on Tuesday, are the first side in action on Saturday when they face Everton in a lunchtime kickoff at Old Trafford where they have won 15 of their 16 League games and drawn the other.
Chelsea have emerged as United's closest challengers, showing many of the qualities that made them champions by demolishing Birmingham on Wednesday.
They face their old manager Avram Grant and his relegation-threatened West Ham side at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Like Wenger, Ancelotti believes the title is still there to be won.
"Obviously I would like to be in United's position, six points ahead," he said.
"That's a lot at this stage of the season, but in football anything can happen right up until the final whistle. You can win the title in the last minute and you can lose the title in the last minute."
While Wednesday's match at White Hart Lane dented Arsenal's title hopes, it also did little for Spurs' chances of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League.
Like last season they are in a two-way battle with Manchester City for fourth spot, and trail them by two points with both teams having six games to play.
Spurs are at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday while Manchester City, buoyed by beating Manchester United and reaching their first FA Cup final for 30 years last weekend, visit out-of-form Blackburn Rovers on Monday.
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