The black dog tormenting Arsene Wenger was a powerful counter-argument to the theory that defeat in the Premiership race is not so tough to bear now that there is the considerable compensation of the Champions League at hand.

Losing to Bradford City hurt, conceding the title to their bitter adversaries in Manchester more hurtful still, and the Arsenal manager admitted to feeling depressed on Saturday night. Not that there was any need to invite him to write off his team's chances alongside United and Leeds; it is a common Wenger tactic - offloading pressure on to his rivals - and you did not have to peer too far to see it coming.

"There is still a lot of football to be played and many more twists and turns to come" - that was Paul Jewell's verdict though his gaze, naturally, was on the scramble for life at the foot of the table. Wenger saw no reason for any such qualification, United's nine-point lead with a game in hand apparently too big for Arsenal to close.

"That's it for us and the championship," said Wenger. "We can forget about Manchester United. The championship is played in England, not in dreamland."

For there to be more mileage in the Gunners' challenge they surely had to be disposing of the likes of Bradford, which is no disrespect to the Yorkshire club, admirably fighting - and playing - their way towards Premiership security. Arsenal were the smarter in possession but uncharacteristically conceded soft goals at the same early stage of each half and paid a heavy price.

They quickly cancelled out the first through the opportunism of Thierry Henry but could not find a repeat, though they came desperately close. Henry bounced a lob over Aidan Davison on to the bar and Wayne Jacobs cleared off the line from Davor Suker.

"We had most of the possession but we were not dangerous enough," said Wenger. "It is very depressing to lose here but Bradford fought for every ball and their two strikers went for everything. Manchester United are so consistent and every bad result kills us."

Bradford: Davison, Halle, Wetherall, O'Brien, Jacobs, Lawrence, McCall, Whalley, Beagrie, Saunders, Windass (Dreyer 90). Subs Not Used: Southall, Wright, Blake, Sharpe. Booked: Davison. Goals: Windass 10, Saunders 57.

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Grimandi, Winterburn, Parlour, Ljungberg, Petit, Malz (Bergkamp 67), Suker, Henry. Subs Not Used: Manninger, Luzhny, Hughes, Cole. Booked: Henry. Goals: Henry 13.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).