Watch out Wenger, they're behind you... but can Everton really overtake Arsenal?

After five points dropped in four days, Arsene Wenger and Mathieu Flamini have both conceded the title is out of reach for Arsenal.

‘Very difficult,’ said Flamini, while Wenger admitted his team must start to ‘look behind’ at the developing threat from Everton.

After spending much of the season at the summit, Arsenal’s title bid has become another depressingly familiar scramble for fourth and to retain their long-held Champions League status and the annual £30million or so that goes with it.

THE HOME STRAIGHT

ARSENAL RUN-IN

Saturday: Man City (H). April 6: Everton (A).  April 15: West Ham (H). April 19: Hull (A). April 20: Newcastle (H).May 5: West Bromwich (H).  May 11: Norwich (A).

EVERTON RUN-IN

Sunday: Fulham (A).  April 6: Arsenal (H). April 12: Sunderland (A). April 16: Crystal Palace (H). April 20: Man Utd (H). April 26: Southampton (A). May 3: Man City (H). May 11: Hull (A).

They are not short of cash at the Emirates Stadium but continued progress will depend on the Champions League and anxiety levels are creeping up as form has slumped.

When they beat Crystal Palace at home on Sunday February 2, Arsenal were top of the Barclays Premier League with 55 points, 10 clear of Everton in fifth and both teams had 14 games to play.

Six days later, they were thrashed 5-1 at Liverpool, leapfrogged by Chelsea and have been on the slide since, winning four of 11 games in all competitions. Everton have won the last three and are six points behind with a game in hand.

Damning: Paul Scholes (centre) took Arsenal to task over their lack of leadership in midfield

If Wenger’s team lose at home to Manchester City on Saturday and Everton win at Fulham on Sunday, Roberto Martinez can take his side into the top four on goal difference by beating Arsenal at Goodison Park on Sunday week. And still have a game in hand.

‘Of course it is still possible,’ said Leon Osman, after winning at Newcastle on Tuesday. ‘There are so many points to play for and anything can happen.

‘As long as it’s still a possibility, we’ll certainly be getting our heads down and trying to win every game and finish in the top four.

‘Maybe we have the momentum. We’ve won three in a row and they are possibly having a sticky patch, although we don’t want to worry too much about Arsenal. We’ve  got a couple of important games coming up which we’re capable of winning. It would be great if we could keep this run going.’