SIR Alex Ferguson has told his players they can move within touching distance of the title with victory against Arsenal - and at the same time couldn't resist taking a verbal swipe at Arsene Wenger's faltering side.

Ahead of the Old Trafford showdown, Fergie insisted he was more worried about last week's clash with Middlesbrough than the visit of the Gunners on Sunday.

United saw their lead at the top of the table cut to just three points following their 2-2 draw at the Riverside.

And Ferguson is convinced neither Arsenal or Chelsea - who his side meet on April 26 - will provide a sterner test than Gareth Southgate's men.

"I always viewed the Middlesbrough match as our most difficult game," he said. "I wasn't surprised by their performance.

"They could have beaten us, but we managed to rescue a point from it."

Ferguson believes the games against Arsenal and Chelsea will determine the destination of the title.

He knows that victory on Sunday will virtually kill off Wenger's fading hopes of finishing top of the pile, while also maintaining United's slender advantage over Chelsea ahead of their Stamford Bridge clash.

"It is better if you go into the games in decent form and I think our form is decent," he said. "The games against Arsenal and Chelsea are the two big ones. They are fantastic games which all the players look forward to.

"Arsenal have been our main competitors for over 15 years and it is not going to change on Sunday.

"It will be a hard fought match and hopefully we can take the spoils."

United's hopes of success domestically and in Europe have been boosted by the return of Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre, who both featured against Roma after overcoming long-term injuries.

Silvestre has been out since suffering cruciate knee- ligament damage in September, while Neville came off the bench for his first action in 13 months following ankle and calf problems.

"They give us a little bit of experience at a very important time," said Ferguson.

"Gary has been through a hard time of it with small injuries persistently derailing him.

"But in the last six weeks to two months he has been through a programme that ensured he would train in all the sessions and play in reserve games. Now, hopefully, we can get him in the team soon."

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