Patrick Vieira believes Manchester United can still be caught in the Premier League title race this season and insisted today that Arsenal will eventually come back to challenge them.

Wednesday night's penalty shoot-out win over Roma has given the Gunners a shot in the arm at just the right time with Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas almost ready to return to the first team.

Such is the confidence at Emirates Stadium that striker Eduardo - another who has just returned from long-term injury - believes they can still finish in the top three this season.

Vieira, who helped the Gunners to three titles and four FA Cups during his time at Highbury, got a first-hand look at why the trophies have dried up when his Inter Milan side were convincingly beaten in the Champions League at Old Trafford in midweek.

The midfielder, now 32, admitted United must be favourites to retain their crown but refuses to give up hope that Arsene Wenger's side, currently 16 points adrift of the leader, will return to prominence in the future.

He said: "I've been watching the games in the Premier League and United are winning and winning. You can see they are a really good side, a really good team. But I truly believe it's not over yet. Chelsea are coming back very hard, Liverpool don't give up and Arsenal can always come back.

"They've had a difficult time but the Arsenal players keep going. I think it's really important the way they keep playing really good football, they keep creating so many chances.

"I think they will need a little bit more time and in football you don't have time because you get criticism so quickly. But in the end I think Arsenal will always be near the top."

Vieira, however, is still impressed by Sir Alex Ferguson's side after they beat his Inter team 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

"What's really important and what isn't a surprise is that year after year this team keeps winning. That shows how good they are," he said.

"They are young but when you look at Scholes and Giggs they are showing the young players how to win. It's important to have key players like them in the squad".

After a dramatic night in Rome, the Gunners turn their attention to domestic matters tomorrow and the visit of Blackburn.

Much of the talk about Arsenal's League campaign has focused on the battle with Aston Villa for fourth place but Eduardo insists they should set their sights higher after overcoming their recent goal drought.

"Before we didn't score but its coming slowly," said the 26-year-old. "What is important is that we are defending well and the performances are coming.

"There are a lot of great players coming back now. Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky and Emmanuel Adebayor are all coming back and it'll be okay. I think we can be in the top three in the Premier League."

A minor groin problem picked up in the Stadio Olimpico will force Eduardo to miss the Blackburn match. His absence is a blow given and it is a considerable shame he will not get the opportunity to build on last weekend's magical volley with the outside of his foot in the FA Cup win over Burnley.

Despite the latest setback, he insists confidence in his body is growing - although he admits he never thought that wonder goal would stand.

"Every time I play I get more confidence in myself and I hope I can help the team for the rest of the season," he said. "I thought I was offside [against Burnley] because I drifted. But I wanted to hit it with the outside of my foot - I was 100 per cent in myself I would do this and it went in."

Andrey Arshavin is available after being ineligible against Roma but Mikael Silvestre is unlikely to be considered despite recovering from a calf problem.

For Blackburn, Brett Emerton and Steven Reid are long-term absentees with knee injuries.