Nonsense to write off Arsenal’s title hopes, says Sir Alex Ferguson

James Olley
28 Aug 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Arsenal can mount a genuine challenge for the title this season. The Gunners have made a perfect start to the campaign, thumping Everton and Portsmouth in the Premier League and easing past Celtic 5-1 on aggregate to reach the group stages of the Champions League.

The performance is all the more amazing given that striker Emmanuel Adebayor and centre-half Kolo Toure were sold to Manchester City during the summer while the only major purchase has been defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax.

Arsene Wenger was criticised for not strengthening his side more but Manchester United boss Ferguson has praised his counterpart for ignoring the flak and insists the Gunners can break their four-year trophy drought.

Ahead of tomorrow's clash between the clubs, Ferguson said: “Their 6-1 win at Everton was an amazing result. I've never known Everton concede that many goals at home. I can't remember that happening before.

“It's been a good start for them. We've got a game on our hands. I couldn't understand people writing Arsenal off. I can't see it. They have respect and the one thing Arsene has done well is he's always sold a player at the right time.

“He has always known the right time for a player to leave and he has done it again with Adebayor and Toure. It is not easy to manage that kind of change but I don't think the level of ability has changed one bit and he seems to have a good harmony in the squad.”

Although United hammered Wigan 5-0 last weekend, the Premier League champions have already come unstuck with a shock 1-0 defeat at Burnley.

And the Scot is mindful the effect a defeat tomorrow would have on his team.

He said: “We've got to get our form right and make sure it is consistent. We dropped points against the top-four teams last season — six to Liverpool, four to Arsenal and two to Chelsea — and that's an area I want to see us address.”

The managers first crossed swords in 1996 with United winning a nondescript encounter 1-0 thanks to a Nigel Winterburn own goal. However, there have been some momentous clashes since — the Gunners won 1-0 at Old Trafford in 2002 to clinch the title while a United victory two years later was overshadowed by Pizzagate'.

Ferguson expects both teams to go for it at Old Trafford. He said: “Over the years Manchester United versus Arsenal games were the future of the Premier League, there's no doubt about that.

“It was the No1 game. Some of them were very, very feisty. But the characters of the teams have changed. There is no Keane or Vieira; both volatile characters and dominant players.

“I think the personalities of the teams have changed. It will be no less competitive, though, just a different type of game.”

Ferguson must decide whether to make changes, knowing Michael Carrick and Anderson will be desperate to make an impact after missing last week's rout of Wigan. In addition, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen got their names on the scoresheet for the first time this season, although both trail Wayne Rooney by three after the England man's double took his United tally to 101.

“I don't really pay attention to that kind of achievement,” said Ferguson.

“But he is young and his performance level is getting better, which is what you would expect. Wayne is capable of improving his goalscoring level and, hopefully, he goes on to get more.”