SOCCER: Alex Ferguson strongly criticised the appointment of Graham Poll to referee yesterday's English Premiership game between Manchester United and Arsenal as he conceded his team were out of the championship race.

Ferguson suggested the official had been bound to favour Arsenal because of what happened to him on his last visit to Highbury.

Poll was taking charge of his first match here since his controversial handling of Arsenal's defeat by Newcastle in December 2001. The official sent off Ray Parlour that evening, as well as Newcastle's Craig Bellamy, and a furious Thierry Henry had to be hauled away from him at the end.

Ferguson believes Poll's decision making was influenced by that, and seemed to imply Arsenal had approved his appointment for this game after blocking his involvement here on other occasions. He was angry that Poll waved play on rather than giving United a penalty when Sol Campbell tripped Ryan Giggs, though replays showed contact was outside the box.

"I didn't think we were going to get a penalty kick in this game because it's two-and-a-half years since Graham Poll has been at Arsenal," Ferguson said. "He was under enormous pressure.

"It's almost as if they've said: 'We'll give you another chance, Graham. You didn't do us a turn the last time, you have to do something this time.' I think that was enormous pressure for a referee. I don't think it's fair. It was a very difficult game for Graham Poll to get."

Arsene Wenger retorted in typical fashion.

"He must send a letter to the FA and complain," said the Arsenal manager. "I'm not a decision maker on that. I feel the referee had a very good game."

The managers engaged in a heated touchline argument in the first half over a tackle by Patrick Vieira on Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ferguson feeling it was dangerous, Wenger arguing it was hard but fair.

Where the pair did agree was that the title was beyond United after this 1-1 draw. They trail Arsenal by 12 points and are five points behind Chelsea. Though Ferguson said his team had "reminded everyone we are not dead yet" with this display, he feels Wenger's players are uncatchable.

"I think they will go on to win the league now," he said. "I'm sure of that. They're playing with great determination . . . [but] we have taken a lot of credit out of the game. We played with great tenacity and intensity."

Wenger refused to accept Arsenal have the league wrapped up, because he believes Chelsea could overhaul them, but said: "Manchester United are maybe too far with eight games to go. One team [from Arsenal and Chelsea] could lose many points but two, I'm not sure."

This draw means Arsenal have set a record for the longest unbeaten start to a season at 30 games but their joy was stifled by disappointment that they did not hold on to the lead given to them by Henry.

"They're really down," Wenger said. "We wanted to win the game but the overall achievement of the team is fantastic. We are so hungry that even tonight they are disappointed after such a record." The shot Henry produced for his goal was described by Wenger as "a missile" and Ferguson declined to condemn Roy Carroll's positioning after seeing a replay.