Arsenal´s run-in no advantage in title race: Fergie

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists Arsenal’s relatively easy run-in won’t play a major role in deciding the Premier League title race.

Ferguson’s team are one point ahead of second placed Chelsea and two in front of third placed Arsenal.

But many pundits believes Arsenal’s remaining fixtures, which include matches against Manchester City and Tottenham but also less taxing games against Wolves, Wigan, Blackburn and Fulham, could make the difference for the Gunners.

Ferguson, whose team have won their last six matches, still feels that Chelsea, visitors to Old Trafford in April, are as much of a threat to United’s hopes of a fourth straight title as Arsene Wenger’s side.

He said: “On paper Arsenal have the easy run in but at this stage of the season I’m not sure whether that works, whether it means anything at all.

“You can drop a couple of points like Chelsea did at Blackburn last Sunday and your advantage on paper all of a sudden doesn’t look so good.

“The name of the game is to win your games and hopefully we can do that. That’s our best way of looking forward.

“I don’t think there is a bigger challenger (from one team) than another, we’re all in the same pot together.

“We’ll rely on our experience which is vital and hopefully we can keep a relatively clean bill of health between now and the end of the season.”

United will have just six games to go after face struggling Bolton in Saturday’s late game at the Reebok Stadium.

Ferguson’s side could be down to third in the table by the time they kick off as Chelsea host Aston Villa and Arsenal travel to Birmingham earlier on Saturday.

However, Ferguson has dismissed concerns about Wayne Rooney’s knee and has revealed John O’Shea has returned to full training for the first time since November.

O’Shea has not played since the Republic of Ireland’s 1-1 draw in France after the defender suffered complications as he recovered from a dead leg.

But the versatile defender returned to full training on Thursday, while Ferguson laughed off doubts about Rooney’s fitness after the England striker was pictured limping after the 2-1 win over Liverpool last week.

Paul Scholes is available after an ankle injury and Ferguson is considering starting with Ryan Giggs, who came off the bench against Liverpool after several weeks out with a fractured arm.

Ferguson added: “Scholes is ok again. The little problem he’s had with his ankle has settled down now and he’s available.

“Ryan is a further week ahead. He was a substitute last week but whether I start him at Bolton is another matter.

“But his experience and Scholes’ experience at this time of year is going to be invaluable to us as it always is.

“John O’Shea took part in a training session for the first time and we expect him back at the start of April.

“These are plus points for us at the moment because all season we’ve had to deal with defenders being injured all the time and that’s not easy.”

Giggs, 36, has been quoted as saying he may consider returning to international football with Wales, three years after his last appearance for his country.

But Ferguson does not expect to see his veteran midfielder lining up for John Toshack?s side.

He added: “You must be joking. I can’t see it. It must have been a weak moment for Ryan! I can’t see that.”

Bolton have pulled clear of relegation trouble after appointing Owen Coyle last month.

Ferguson added: “Now Owen’s gone to Bolton, there’s not much material difference in the way that Bolton play.

“They’ve still got the two big lads up front, Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies, they still have long throw-ins, free kicks and corner kicks and we’re used to that.”