Gunners main threat despite Chelsea’s cash, cautions Keane

ROY KEANE still rates Arsenal as the biggest threat to Manchester United despite Chelsea’s mammoth spending spree.

Keane believes the Gunners will be the main challengers in the Barclaycard Premiership once more, especially now they have tied down Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires to new contracts.

The Irish midfielder said: "Arsenal are still our main rivals. They have an excellent manager and some top players.

"We saw again in the Community Shield that there is not a lot between us so obviously they are going to be our biggest threat.

"They have probably had a stronger squad than us over the last year or two and getting Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira to sign new contracts was probably more important than buying new players as far as Arsenal are concerned."

Keane accepts that Chelsea have become stronger through the players bought by owner Roman Abramovich's millions, but warned that does not guarantee success.

He added: "Sometimes you can go out and buy players just for the sake of buying them. Then again, I have a lot of respect for their manager, I think he is an excellent manager, but they are a quality team anyway and they will no doubt be stronger for it, and I think they will be there or thereabouts.

"I'm not interested in other clubs really. They have obviously bought a lot of players and are hoping to win the championship, but all I am worried about is United," he said.

Meanwhile Gary Neville has told Alex Ferguson to count him in for the Barclaycard Premiership game against Newcastle on Saturday.

While his England team-mates were defeating Croatia, Neville was having a run-out for the reserves at Altrincham after suffering a torn hamstring.

With Ferguson looking on, he played for 64 minutes in the 2-0 defeat by Blackburn.

Asked if he felt he could challenge for a place against Newcastle, Neville said: "I do but obviously that is down to the manager."

Neville admitted the last few weeks have been difficult for him after he suffered the injury during United's opening game in America against Celtic.

He had only just recovered from a broken foot, which caused him to miss the title run-in. He last played a Premiership match in April against Tottenham.

"It has been frustrating, especially on a night the lads are playing for their countries," he said.

"You also see the players playing the first league game of the season. That's where you want to be.

"No disrespect to playing for the reserves it is nice to come back and play with the lads but I also want to play for the first team. That's where I would like to be."

Neville played in central defence for the reserves and upset some of the Blackburn players with some feisty tackles.

"The ball is there to be won. That's my job," he said.

Neville took time out to applaud Brazil midfielder Kleberson, who made his first appearance for the club.

The £6m buy played a full match and could come into the reckoning on Saturday, especially if Nicky Butt does not recover from an ankle injury he suffered on England duty.

Neville said: "It is going to take time for him to settle in. But he has shown in training and for the reserves he's got some good touches."