Birmingham 1-1 Arsenal: The Daily Mirror match report

The strain showed clearly on the face of Arsene Wenger after Birmingham striker Kevin Phillips turned the screw on Arsenal’s title chances.

Wenger often seems to think the whole world is against him so imagine his demeanour when a stoppage-time equaliser from evergreen Phillips halted Arsenal’s title march.

In a four-letter rant the Frenchman complained about City’s pitch, their tackling, the legality of the equaliser, and even Blues manager Alex McLeish’s goal celebration.

It’s a wonder the March weather didn’t take a hit too.

Wenger’s complaining has long been a source of amusement for rival supporters and he is in danger of cutting a comic figure if he keeps on whingeing when results go against him.

Birmingham fans teased him during the game as they mimicked his trademark touchline gestures to referees by extending their arms.

And the home fans could not contain their glee when Phillips scored a lucky goal to deny Arsenal a seventh successive League victory.

It must have left a bitter taste in Wenger’s mouth as some of his excuses for the result were certainly rather blinkered.

He firstly complained skipper Cesc Fabregas was doubtful for Wednesday’s Champions League game with Barcelona after a firm but fair challenge from Craig Gardner.

“Bad tackle – one more – he got tackled at the knee,” said Wenger, recalling Martin Taylor’s infamous foul on Eduardo at St Andrews which left the striker with a broken leg two years ago.

Wenger tried to claim Birmingham’s equaliser was an own goal as keeper Manuel Almunia had the final touch, and also said it should have been ruled out for offside.

And Wenger wasted few opportunities to castigate referee Howard Webb.

“I felt we got some yellow cards and the goal was offside, it’s a bit too much,” said Wenger.

But it was when he started blaming Birmingham’s pitch that the Arsenal boss began to flounder.

He added: “If we sell our game to international rights for £1.2billion next year and pretend that we have the best league in the world, the minimum we have to do is to take care of our pitches.”

Wenger’s criticisms upset Birmingham ground-staff, to whom he had written five years earlier commending the pitch.

But he didn’t stop at insulting City’s behind-the-scenes employees – he also took manager McLeish to task for his celebrations.

The Scot was so delighted with Phillips’ equaliser, which was not totally undeserved as the hosts played very well, that he leapt on to the playing surface outside his technical area in triumph.

Wenger scorned: “You are not allowed on the pitch. It’s the fourth official’s job to keep a look-out for that. I was surprised he was able to do that.”

Arsenal found Birmingham tough opponents to break down, especially with keeper Joe Hart – almost certain to be in the England World Cup squad – in superb form.

The home side might have taken the lead when defender Roger Johnson hit the post and team-mate Scott Dann somehow missed an open goal from the rebound.

But Arsenal were on top by the time substitute Samir Nasri blasted in a fine right-foot shot from outside the area in the 81st minute. There was still time for Phillips’ dramatic intervention when Bacary Sagna’s clearance ricocheted in off his face for his 250th League goal.

“It nearly broke my nose,” Phillips said. “Sagna’s cleared it, it’s come off my knee, hit me straight on the nose and gone up.

“Whether it was going to go over the bar until the keeper took a bit off it, I don’t know. But it’s definitely my goal.”

Phillips grew up supporting Arsenal but the veteran is backing Chelsea for the ttle and reckons the dropped points by Wenger’s men at St Andrews could prove costly.

He added: “They needed the points to keep their title hopes alive. They’re obviously not out of it but this is a big blow for them.

“And I have to say I have fancied Chelsea since the start of the season.”