Ferguson: Giving up is out of the question
The Red Devils, who stunned the Gunners as they came from behind to clinch the title last year, trail their London rivals by nine points after a disastrous week.
The 1-1 draws at home to Leeds and at Fulham have persuaded the bookies to slash Arsenal's title odds to 1-14 on and lengthen United's odds to 15-2.
But Ferguson, whose mind games with his Highbury counterpart Arsene Wenger have been a major feature of the managers' rivalry in recent seasons, opted for a psychological strike against Wenger yesterday, emphasising that despite the odds and mathematics favouring the Gunners United simply will not give up.
Ferguson, who has just 11 games left in which to overhaul Arsenal, said: "The draw with Fulham knocked us back a bit but it's not in my nature nor in the club's nature to give up. Manchester United is built on bigger foundations and history than any other club in the country so giving up is out of the question. It is achievable because we're capable of winning games."
However, despite Ferguson's assertion that the team he built is capable of pipping Arsenal at the post yet again, it would take a nightmare sequence of results by Wenger's side to allow United back into the title picture.
Ferguson did himself no favours at Loftus Road, resting Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ryan Giggs and Tim Howard for one of United's most crucial fixtures of the season.
Howard's replacement, Roy Carroll, allowed Luis Boa Morte's 63rd-minute drive to slither between his legs and into the back of his net.
That equalised Louis Saha's brilliant 13th minute opener against his old club. The French forward smashed home after a lightning counterattack by the champions.
And Ferguson effectively accused referee Alan Wiley of costing his side two priceless points.
The official turned down what appeared to be a clear penalty with the scores tied at 1-1, waving away United appeals when Edwin van der Sar bundled over Saha in the box.
"Referees are making horrendous mistakes every week," Ferguson said. "They don't give anyone in the game confidence that they're doing their job."
However, Phil Neville who surprisingly played as United's linchpin in front of their back four called on his team-mates to forget their angst over the decision and take their revenge on Fulham when the sides square up at Old Trafford this Saturday in their FA Cup quarter-final clash.
Fulham manager Chris Coleman has been in hospital since Tuesday as doctors battle to prevent his virus attacking the right leg he shattered in a car crash three years ago. The boss is expected back at work today.
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