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Rediff.com  » Sports » Man U, Arsenal resume title race

Man U, Arsenal resume title race

April 18, 2003 17:38 IST
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Manchester United and Arsenal will dust themselves down and resume their toe-to-toe title bout on Saturday with games against Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough respectively.

Wednesday's see-saw 2-2 draw between the two protagonists at Highbury resolved nothing, leaving United, on 71 points, three points ahead of the champions at the top but with only four games left to Arsenal's five.

The bookmakers cannot separate the two sides but judging by the body language after Wednesday's game, United manager Alex Ferguson thinks his side are in the driving seat.

Ferguson had a triumphal air as he walked around the pitch after the final whistle at Highbury, a sight that will no doubt have irked Arsenal fans.

But the fact remains that Arsenal, who have a goal difference that is already better by one, will almost certainly retain their title if they win all their remaining matches.

If Ferguson believes he is winning the mind games, Wenger is not impressed.

"We are exactly the same as before the game," Wenger told reporters. "It's open. Psychology is part of football but it doesn't make the difference.

"It's now down to the team who does more in the next few games and that's quite interesting for you --- and for me."

Wenger has problems, though, with captain Patrick Vieira out of the trip to mid-table Middlesbrough and possibly the rest of the season due to the inflamed right knee that forced him off after barely half-an-hour against United.

Centre back Sol Campbell is fit, but the Middlesbrough game, followed by the trip to Bolton Wanderers on April 26, could be his last of the season after his red card for elbowing United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Campbell will be banned for four games, including the FA Cup final against Southampton on May 17,
unless he wins his appeal or referee Mark Halsey, who brandished the red card after consulting his linesman, reverses his decision.

Wenger, though, can take heart from the fact that his team have won their last four games against Middlesbrough, including a 2-0 success in the league at Highbury on December 21.

BECKHAM POSER

That game took place the day before United lost 1-0 at Blackburn, who visit Old Trafford on Saturday.

Ferguson has a difficult balancing act selection-wise with Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid in mind. United will be seeking to overturn a 3-1 first leg deficit against the European champions at Old Trafford.

Midfielder David Beckham, though fit, did not play against Arsenal and his replacement Solskjaer proved a more than able stand-in.

But Beckham and right back Gary Neville may return against Rovers, with John O'Shea struggling to be fit.

Beckham may replace Nicky Butt in midfield while in defence Mikael Silvestre will probably revert to the left flank, with Wes Brown partnering Rio Ferdinand in the centre.

Blackburn generally do better at Old Trafford against United than at Ewood Park, and they drew 1-1 there in the League Cup in January.

But United have hit their stride at the perfect time.

Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, with 37 goals this season in all competitions, is on fire and the team has mustered 18 strikes in their last six league games, of which they have won five and drawn one.

As on Wednesday, nothing will be decided by Saturday's games. But a defeat for either side could well prove fatal to their title aspirations.

"I think points are going to be dropped yet," warned Ferguson.
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Source: REUTERS
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