Wenger concedes Arsenal can't reach 'untouchable' United this season

Arsene Wenger admitted that Arsenal cannot catch Manchester United this season. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Arsène Wenger has publicly written off Arsenal's hopes of regaining the Premier League title this season, acknowledging Manchester United as "untouchable" at the top, and conceded that his side's principal aim over the rest of the campaign is a top-four finish and qualification for next year's Champions League.

Arsenal progressed into the fifth round of the FA Cup with Monday's comfortable 4–0 victory over Cardiff City, a game that saw Eduardo da Silva bolster the side's attacking options with a brace on his long-awaited return from injury, as they search for their first silverware since 2005. While the Gunners remain in contention in Europe – they play Roma in the first knockout phase of the Champions League next week – the team languish 12 points behind United in the Premier League and, critically, five adrift of Chelsea in fourth place.

"We're very consistent and on a very strong run," said Wenger after seeing his side extend their unbeaten sequence to 12 games in all competitions. "We missed scoring the goals that we're capable of recently, but are very consistent and promised ourselves that we'll give everything until the end of the season. Manchester United look untouchable because they're 12 points ahead and have a game tomorrow against Fulham they'll certainly win. Their results are very consistent.

"They win 1–0 and you think during the game that they may drop a point or maybe more, but they always manage to find somewhere the resources to win the game. If they win their game in hand they're 15 points in front, which means they need to lose five games. Say they lose one against us, then they still need to lose another four games. They haven't lost four games all season yet, but we'll try. I believe our basic target is to get into the Champions League."

Arsenal still have to play Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United before the end of the season and can make a real impact in the title race, though Wenger's sense of realism may reflect a private confidence that his side can flourish on the run-in to ensure a top-four finish. Eduardo was the first of a key group of players to return to the first team reckoning after injury, with the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosicky and Cesc Fábregas to follow.

The Spain midfielder expects to resume ball work towards the end of this month, with the Russia international Andrei Arshavin also in contention to make his mark with a likely debut against Sunderland this weekend following his £16m move from Zenit St Petersburg.

Eduardo said his goals against Cardiff made for "the best day of my life" and paid tribute to the club's fitness coach, Tony Colbert, for the support he had offered over a year-long recuperation from the horrific leg break and dislocated ankle he suffered at Birmingham City. "The second goal, I went to Tony," said the Croatia forward . "We worked so hard and he was like my second father. We spent a lot of time together every day, and I think this goal was special for him.

"It was a hard time but now I don't want to speak about the past. Last year, I was strong in my head. I was very positive thinking I will be back. I am now. I have to be because I feel I can play again like before. We have three or four months [left in] the championship – I am here to help Arsenal to be on top or in the first three. Now we are in the [fifth round of the] FA Cup, I want to get to the final and in the Champions League we want to go far."