Arsene Wenger was left bemoaning the loss of two points as Arsenal, without an away win this season, slipped further behind Manchester United in the race for the Championship.

Early season it may be, but the failure to beat a team walloped 6-0 by United in midweek will not give the Gunners' faithful cause for optimism.

There were plenty of excuses and quite a few consolations. Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira were all absent and, in their different ways, were all missed.

But Sylvain Wiltord, the £13 million signing from Bordeaux, showed enough on his Premiership debut to suggest that he will be a lively asset while 19-year-old full-back Ashley Cole not only displayed exciting potential as a replacement for injured midweek hero Silvinho but also scored the equaliser into the bargain.

While Chelsea were convincingly beaten 2-0 at this inhospitable northern outpost, at least their fierce London rivals emerged with a point. That was more than Arsenal had managed in a similar test at Sunderland on the opening day, when beaten 1-0.

Yet, in the final analysis they failed to win and that is not good enough.

'We feel better than after the Sunderland match because we didn't lose,' said a subdued Wenger. 'But we still lost two points. We're frustrated because we played well and created chance after chance but we couldn't score more.

'Bradford did very well and could have won it late on with Benito Carbone. We found ourselves in trouble from the long ball and from corners and free kicks.'

Bradford manager Chris Hutchings said: 'I'm delighted to have got a point and I'm pleased that after playing Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal we've taken five points from our first five matches. In our situation anything against the top teams is a welcome bonus. Now we need to push on and pick up points against other teams.

'Over the years we have done well at home and it's psychologically difficult for teams coming here. We've always had plenty of spirit and now we're trying to add quality.

'In the second half they put us under tremendous pressure but we had a couple of chances at the end and could have snatched it. Arsenal are a quality side and they will always create chances. It's a question of how you adapt under the pressure and sometimes you just have to ride your luck.'

The pattern was set in the first 10 minutes when Thierry Henry hit a post, then Bradford took an unexpected lead. Martin Keown's clearing header only reached Stuart McCall, whose thumping 18-yard shot into the bottom corner left David Seaman helpless.

The goal gave Bradford the encouragement to fight for everything and made Arsenal increasingly anxious. Much of the Gunners' approach work was excellent but as Bradford crowded their penalty area with bodies ever willing to intercept, tackle and charge down every attempt at goal, the scene was set for a fascinating exercise in survival. Twice Arsenal were denied

penalty claims in the first half - incidents which might have changed the course of the match. The first, and according to Wenger, most valid claim came before Bradford had gone ahead, Freddie Ljungberg colliding with goalkeeper Matt Clarke as he cut into the box to accept a clever through-ball from Henry.

The second was less justifiable and might even have resulted in a booking for Robert Pires, who went down spectacularly when he might have been better advised to stay on his feet and try a shot from a narrow angle. Referee Alan Wiley turned aside the appeals, the chance was lost and the Frenchman was persistently booed for the remainder of the half.

The Gunners could ill-afford to concede a second goal but came desperately close to doing so when Carbone capitalised on a mistake by Lee Dixon to produce an artful chip which Seaman fingertipped to safety.

Eventually, they found a way through Bradford's Alamo-style resistance. Henry, who had been their most dangerous threat, beat the offside trap to collect Ljungberg's through pass and supply the centre which Cole gratefully converted.

Pires then drifted round Clarke only for Peter Atherton to clear his narrow angled shot off the line. But right at the death, Carbone could have been the hometown hero. First the little Italian volleyed over from eight yards and then, in the final minute, saw his well-taken shot on the turn flash wide.

A victory for the home side would have been unjust but Bradford showed how far heart and character can take you.

There was little to criticise in Arsenal's general play as they knocked the ball around with their familiar class. But they may be concerned about the vulnerability of their once-famous defence.