Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin

Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin admits it is getting harder to believe Arsenal can still win the Barclays Premier League.

Arsene Wenger's men simply had no answer to Manchester United as the defending champions romped to a 3-1 win at Emirates Stadium.

The defeat - a fifth in the Barclays Premier League - leaves the Gunners five points behind Chelsea, who also won in north London at the end of November.

If Chelsea beat Hull in their re-arranged midweek fixture, then Arsenal will again be faced with clawing back a significant deficit.

However, Arshavin - who had looked lively early on against United - feels the Gunners must now regroup as they prepare for Sunday's trip to Stamford Bridge.

"It is getting even harder to believe that we can win first place after such defeats," the Russian said.

"I divide the games with Aston Villa, Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool into two parts - the first part has been held, there are still two more games, I hope we will conduct them better."