Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal are paying the price for continuing to rely on youth as they look set to end the season empty handed again.Wenger's young Gunners defied all expectations by starting the season at a blistering pace and establishing a five-point lead at the Premier League summit.

But inconsistency and bad luck have undermined their campaign since February and failure to beat Manchester United on Sunday afternoon will crush their remote title hopes.

A third consecutive season without silverware beckons but Wenger refuses to abandon his preference for nurturing emerging talent over signing expensive superstars.

The Frenchman accepts his players have proved fallible at key moments this season but is adamant they have the class to succeed.

"When you go for a youth policy you know about the price you must pay," he said.

"We knew that we had to enter March with a big advantage but now we have no special pressure on us and we can use that to our favour.

"Big moments in big games have gone against us. We have to think about that at the end of the season and try to rectify it.

"Last month we were 1-0 up against Chelsea with 17 minutes to go but lost the game 2-1. We had the game in our hands, we just had to grab it.

"At decisive moments in games we have shown a lack of maturity and that's what's gone wrong for us recently. It's only maturity, not quality."

Wenger has been criticised for a cautious approach to recruitment that has left the squad short of numbers and experience at the decisive stage of the season.

Funds are available but the Gunners boss is convinced the club, who were knocked out of the Champions League by Liverpool on Tuesday, can compete without spending big.

"We have gone for a policy and have to stick with it," he said.

"It's very difficult to change the policy when you're in the middle of it and of course you destroy the work you've completed in the previous years.

"We are very close to our rivals and we have to keep this team together.

"We fight with Chelsea who lose over £100million per year and we make £50million per year.

"We still have to beat them and if we don't beat them then it's viewed as a disaster. I have to take a better perspective on it.

"We play against Manchester United tomorrow and how much money have they spent on players? But I still believe we can beat them."

Wenger will be hoping for a more palatable outcome than on Arsenal's last trip to Old Trafford, when they were spanked 4-0 in the FA Cup.

That result, conceded by a disinterested side more focused on their Champions League clash with AC Milan four days later, has been identified as a pivotal moment of the season.

But Wenger is adamant it has no bearing on Sunday's heavyweight showdown and is confident Arsenal can still reclaim the Premiership title they last won in 2004.

"We didn't go for the FA Cup this year, frankly. That match will have now influence on our behaviour tomorrow," he said.

"If you look at the expectations everyone had for us, if we were not to win anything now it would not be a huge disappointment.

"Nobody expected us to be in the top four so why is it suddenly a huge disappointment that we might not win anything?

"But first let's play tomorrow because my expectations are still very high."

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