Ferguson turns up heat in title race

Alex Ferguson is attempting to turn up the title heat on Arsene Wenger by insisting that Arsenal are favourites to win the Premiership.

The bookmakers are at odds over whether Manchester United or Arsenal hold the advantage going into the final week of the campaign. The champions lead United by three points with two games remaining and have a better goal difference by one. United have a game in hand over Arsenal, which is Blackburn away on Wednesday, but Ferguson claims that is of little use unless they win it.

"The fact that they've got a game less than us makes them favourites," said Ferguson. "We've got to win that game in hand and until we do they are going to be favourites."

United can regain the lead and make the bookmakers recalculate the title odds if they win at Middlesbrough tomorrow. United have happy memories of Teesside - they clinched the title there from Newcastle in 1996 on the last day of the season.

However, United will be mindful that Middlesbrough were the last side to beat them 28 games ago before Christmas.

Ryan Giggs was in the United side that day and he has an outside chance of making today's squad. Giggs, who has been out with an ankle injury, came through a full training session yesterday and will train again today.

He is close to a comeback, but Ferguson might well leave him until Wednesday's game against Blackburn.

Meanwhile, the English FA has confirmed that Denis Irwin will definitely miss the FA Cup final following his sending-off at Liverpool. The FA claim Irwin cannot appeal after he picked up a one-match ban for his dismissal for two bookable offences.

United felt referee David Elleray had been harsh to caution the full-back a second time for kicking the ball away at Anfield, but the FA insist there can no reprieve.

Ferguson is still annoyed by Irwin's ban. "It's a terrible blow for the lad and he didn't deserve that," he said. "But in the nature of things that happen in the game, we have to accept it."

Meanwhile in the relegation battle, mind games are also being played with Charlton manager Alan Curbishley warning fellow relegation strugglers Southampton and Blackburn "one slip and you're down".

Curbishley, who leads his club out at Aston Villa today still believes his side will avoid the immediate plunge back into the first division.

"If results go our way and we can stay involved in the race until the last day, you just never know. This season has been extremely tight throughout and there's no way we're giving up on it. We still want to be in with a chance until the final whistle on the last day," said Curbishley.

Charlton captain Mark Kinsella has rubbished speculation that their last two games of the season will be played against opposition whose minds are elsewhere - Charlton's last game is against Sheffield Wednesday who may be eyeing a back-door route into Europe through the FIFA Fair Play table.

"I don't believe any of that, it's a game of football - you give everything and I know Wednesday will feel the same," said the Charlton fans' player of the season.

"People have said that about Villa this weekend, too. They're heading for the Inter-Toto Cup and people think they'll save themselves for that, but everyone wants to win every game they play.

"But we haven't even considered relegation. Last season we needed to win the last 10 for promotion and we got up, so we know we are capable of winning games."