Fergie expects Gunners test

Ferguson: Arsenal challenge

Related links

Teams

• Arsenal
• Manchester United

Also see

• Man Utd fixtures
• Man Utd stats
• Man Utd forum

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Arsenal will provide the main threat to Manchester United's defence of the Premier League title.

The top two will go head-to-head at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1, where United know a victory over the currently undefeated Gunners will send them to the top of the table.

But Red Devils manager Ferguson knows that Chelsea and Liverpool cannot be discounted from the title race, and expects the duo to be strongly in contention after the turn of the year.

The Scot told the League Managers' Association website: "At the moment I think it's looking between Arsenal and ourselves at the top, but you know football changes.

"When you come to January and it really does start, then you expect to see Liverpool and Chelsea."

Incredible

The United boss is hoping for a respite on the injury front having seen the likes of Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick and Louis Saha sidelined for spells already.

He said: "We have had some incredible injury situations, but over the last few years we've been like that at early season with a lot of injuries.

"I hope and pray that by the time we come to December - because the second half of the season is where it really begins - we have got a good strong squad together.

"I feel that once we get that strong squad together we are capable of going and winning the league again."

Enthusiasm

And Ferguson saluted the impact made by Carlos Tevez at Old Trafford following his summer move from West Ham.

He added: "What I have noticed about the boy here, since he has come to us, is that when he loses the ball he wants it back which is a great attribute to have as a striker really, not every striker thinks that way.

"So he's got a lot of great things about him and most importantly that great enthusiasm to play."