Sir Alex Ferguson has said that he thinks Arsenal pose the greatest threat to Manchester United ahead of the title run in.

That time of the season has arrived once again where managers start coming out with comments and phrases as a way of trying to put off their closest rivals. In this case, Ferguson has chosen to ignore Chelsea.

Arsenal have surprised everyone with the way they have managed to maintain their title push this year and Sir Alex says it reminds him of the time a few years ago when Arsenal were pushing United in all areas.

He said: “We are back in the lead, but Chelsea have a game in hand. It’s also going to be a hard-fought tussle, with Arsenal coming strongly now, and I have a suspicion that they might yet mount the biggest challenge.”

“To a certain extent the title is in our hands because Chelsea have to come to Old Trafford [on April 3] and naturally that will be a massive match, but, as I say, I’m wary of Arsenal if they don’t suffer too many more injuries to key players.”

“Right now it’s looking like it, I must say. It’s looking very tight. We have only got eight games left, Chelsea have nine games left, so you never know. You have to think about goal difference. We’re four goals ahead of Chelsea. I wish it was 14, but at least it’s something in our favour.”

“I suppose the simple way for us and Chelsea to look at it is just to win all our games. But life is never that simple.”

The reason that the Scot probably thinks Arsenal are the greatest danger is because they will have the momentum if they keep winning games. They seem to have snuck up from nowhere and have a very good chance of winning.

United came through a potentially tricky match against Fulham at the weekend thanks to their in form strike force. This is the strike force they will need to keep firing.

Striker, Dimitar Berbatov, said: “There can only be one winner in the title race and I think it is going to be us. Arsenal and Chelsea are great teams and we have difficult games ahead, but the good thing is we play at home against Chelsea and that will be an advantage for us. I am optimistic that in the end we will be champions.”

All three teams going for the title have now experienced what it is like to win after a tight run in to the end of the season. Every side has experience and this is what will bring the best team through.

United will be hoping that they can get in front and keep their noses in front but Arsenal have the best run in of the top three sides and on paper will be hoping to gain the most points. It looks set to go down to the wire again this year.

Fulham have been left with a huge task after a heavy defeat against Juventus in the first leg of their Europa League encounter.

The teams have been paired together for the last sixteen round of the competition and Juventus have taken a quick lead, going 3-1 up into the second leg in London.

It was not surprising as Fulham have been struggling over recent weeks to find some form, which saw thump jump into the top half of the Premier League table during the first part of the season.

Juventus were just too strong and although they conceded an important away goal, many would back them to come out on top when the sides meet again during the second leg.

Fulham manager, Roy Hodgson, said: “It will be an exciting game and I’m sure our public will enjoy it. To score two goals and not concede any is a difficult task but I’ve certainly seen stranger things happen in my time in football.”

“Getting back to just 2-1 down, I thought we were reasonably placed. It was in our hands then. But to concede again, and in added-on time in the first half, really killed us. It was a bad goal to concede.”

“We have had a lot of games and maybe there was an element of fatigue tonight. Perhaps we weren’t as sprightly as we have been in some of our games. This will certainly be a testing time for our durability but we’re not out of this competition yet. It’s not impossible.”

Juve have a very experienced and talented side and it would take a brave money to bet against them getting through this game. Fulham have to look at the positives and now focus on a league campaign, which could guarantee them European football again next season.

Things do not seem to be getting any easier as they face Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. United are going for another title and must win the match in order to stay close to their main rivals.

Fulham quickly need to get over this defeat and switch their intentions back onto league focus. Hodgson is old and wise enough to realise that his side are going to have to consolidate and put their efforts into one thing sooner or later.

It is likely that this focus will be diverted into Premier League format. However, they may as well go all out to try and win the second leg of this match because it does now not really matter if they do not perform.

No one is expecting them to play Juve off the park in the second game and because of this, it will be easier for them to deal with as there will not really be any pressure on the game.

Watch this space but Fulham should now think domestically about their football. It’s been a good European run but the signs are saying that it could be about to come to an end.

The EPL January transfer window has finally come to an end and there were a few more players on the move.

Fifth-place Arsenal, who now seem to be out of the title race, has signed Russian Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St Petersburg. He should help the Gunners as long as Wenger plays him instead of sitting him on the bench. The 27-year-old Arshavin scored 51 goals in 232 games for Zenit, and was the 2006 Russian Footballer of the Year.

Portuguese international Ricardo Quaresma left Italy’s Inter Milan and signed on loan with Chelsea until the end of the season. Although he’s only 25, Chelsea becomes the fifth club of Quaresma’s career. Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho paid 16.3 million pounds for him last year.

West Brom signed winger Juan Carlos Menseguez from Argentine Primera Division champions San Lorenzo along with Youssouf Mulumbu from French club Paris St Germain.

Fulham signed French midfielder Olivier Dacourt, 34, on loan from Inter Milan until the end of the season

Twenty two-year-old Charles N’Zogbia’s left Newcastle after he was swapped to Wigan for 24-year-old Ryan Taylor. Newcastle also reportedly received six million pounds in the deal.

In loan moves: Calum Davenport joined Sunderland from West Ham, James Chester left Manchester United for Peterborough United, Tel Ban-Haim went to Sunderland from Manchester City, Michael Chopra left Sunderland for Cardiff City, and Matt Derbyshire was loaned out from Blackburn to Greek side Olympiakos.

Striker Robbie Keane’s return to Tottenham from Liverpool became official after six miserable months at Anfield under manager Rafael Benitez. The Spanish manager cost club owners about five million pounds or more by signing the 28-year-old Republic of Ireland striker last year for close to 20 million pounds. It’s not sure how much Tottenham paid to get Keane back as both clubs are now disputing figures.

It was an odd move in the first place as Liverpool had striker Peter Crouch, but Benitez sold him for some reason to Portsmouth for about seven million pounds before signing Keane. So at the end of the day, Liverpool has neither Crouch nor Keane, and are out millions of pounds. And yes, Benitez is still employed there. In another twist to the story, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has said Keane will now captain Tottenham, but defender Ledley King will retain the club captaincy, whatever that means. It will also be interesting to see how the fans at White Hart lane will greet Keane after he deserted them in the summer.

Meanwhile on the pitch, Championship side Burnley continued its FA Cup run by beating West Brom 3-1 at home in their fourth-round replay. Burnley will now face either Cardiff City or Arsenal in the fifth round. Burnley are getting used to beating Premier League sides this season as they have already beaten Fulham, Chelsea, and Arsenal in the Carling Cup and came oh so close to knocking Spurs out of that competition too, only to lose in the last two minutes of extra time last month. The Arsenal vs Cardiff FA Cup replay was postponed due to current weather conditions in England. Translation: It’s cold and snowing.

The EPL is back in action with a full slate of games over the next two days after a weekend off for some teams due to FA Cup games.

Tuesday’s matches feature 15th place Sunderland at home to 10th place Fulham, a first vs worst battle, with league leaders Manchester United travelling to Birmingham to take on cellar dwellers West Brom, 12th place Portsmouth is hosting fourth place Aston Villa, and 16th place Tottenham has a huge clash at White Hart Lane against 19th spot Stoke City.

Spurs vs Stoke
Tottenham will be a new-look squad after several signings in the transfer window, however, midfielder Wilson Palacios is suspended for the match against Stoke. Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who just came over from Chelsea in a free transfer, could possibly start in net as first choice keeper Heurelho Gomes is struggling both in net and with a thigh injury. Former Spur Pascal Chimbonda, who was just reacquired from Sunderland, wasn’t registered in time to play.

On the injury front Jermaine Jenas (calf) and top scorer Darren Bent (groin) are back training, while Alan Hutton (foot), Ledley King (hamstring) and Jamie O’Hara (hip) are still out. However, Aaron Lennon (groin), Jonathan Woodgate (back) and Luka Modric (back/hamstring) will be game-time decisions

For Stoke, leading scorer Ricardo Fuller should be back after serving a three-game suspension for slapping team mate Andy Griffin. Defender Danny Higginbotham (calf) will be a game-time decision, while Salif Diao (calf), Mamady Sidibe (knee) and Andrew Davies (knee) are all out injured.

Spurs played on Saturday, losing 2-1 to Man United in the FA Cup. Both teams were winless in the last five league games.

Sunderland vs Fulham
Teemu Tainio is available for Sunderland after serving a one-match ban and George McCartney returns from a long-term foot injury.

For Fulham, Diomansy Kamara (knee) is still out injured.

Fulham beat non-league side Kettering 4-2 with two late goals in the Cup on Saturday, while Sunderland drew 0-0 with Blackburn. Both teams have one only one of their last five league games and Fulham hasn’t won on the road all season.

West Brom vs Man Utd
West Brom is missing captain and former Man Utd player Jonathan Greening after he injured his knee during Saturday’s FA Cup game with Burnley. The club already has four centre-backs injured with Abdoulaye Meite, Jonas Olsson, Leon Barnett and Neil Clement all on the shelf. Ten players in total are out with injuries.

Man United actually have more players on the sidelines with 12 on the injury list. Fabio (calf) and Danny Welbeck (ankle) were hurt in Saturday’s 2-1 Cup win over Spurs. Nani, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Rafael, and Patrice Evra are still out with injuries, while Anderson, Wayne Rooney, Jonny Evans and Ji-sung Park were also unavailable for Saturday’s game.

West Brom has won three of their last five, while Utd have won all five.

Portsmouth vs Aston Villa
Both teams could feature new signings as central midfielder Hayden Mullins and defender Pele could play for Portsmouth and striker Emile Heskey might see action for Villa.

Pompey is without injured players Papa Bouba Diop and Richard Hughes, but Younes Kaboul might return after missing five-weeks with a back injury. Moral seems to be pretty low, especially after being knocked out of the FA Cup at home to Swansea on Saturday.

For Aston Villa, defender Luke Young returns after missing Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Doncaster because of a one-game ban for receiving five bookings this season, but winger Ashley Young will miss the match as he serves the second game of a three-match suspension for a red card at Sunderland.

Potsmouth has only a draw to show for their last five league games while Villa has four wins and a draw.