Keane: Gunners major threat to United reclaiming crown

Roy Keane still believes Arsenal will be the team Manchester United have to beat to reclaim their Premiership title.

Chelsea’s summer spending spree and the possible departure of Patrick Vieira from Highbury have led some to suggest the major championship challenge will come from Jose Mourinho’s men this season.

Chelsea have not won the league since 1955 but with Mourinho’s managerial skills and Roman Abramovich’s vast wealth, the Blues will have a major say in the title race.

For Keane though, it is Arsenal who remain the threat. Between them the clubs have won all but one of the 12 Premier League titles and the Ireland midfielder is not buying talk the Gunners may be on the wane.

“Arsenal are still the team to beat,” he said.

“They have proved over the past year that they are the best team. They are up there to be shot at now and we will give it a good go.”

Keane was part of the United squad that flew back to England on Sunday morning from their three-match US tour, which did not go down quite as well as their previous visit 12 months ago.

Three successive defeats and just two goals in open play contrasts sharply with their 14-goal, 100% record on last year’s four-game tour and with a number of key men struggling for fitness, there are fears United crammed too many games into their pre-season schedule.

With Vodafone Cup duels with PSV Eindhoven and Urawa Red Diamonds to follow tonight and Thursday, plus the Community Shield encounter with Arsenal, the Red Devils still have plenty of work to do before the Champions League qualifier against either Dinamo Bucharest or MSK Zilina on August 11. But Keane is adamant United will be ready for their European test.

“We will be ready for August 11 without a doubt,” he said. “The Champions League game is our priority and we should be okay.

“Only time will tell how good the preparation was on tour. Last year we came away with four good performances and four good results. You thought we would go on to conquer the world but it wasn’t to be.

“You have to look at the bonuses. Some of the younger lads have done well and Alan Smith has settled in, not just in games but also in the dressing room and in training.”

Alex Ferguson is confident Ruud van Nistelrooy will be fit to play in the vital Champions League qualifier on August 11.

Van Nistelrooy only returned to training last week after reaching the Euro 2004 semi-finals with Holland and has nine days before the Red Devils embark on their Champions League qualifier trip.

The 28-year-old could feature in United’s Vodafone Cup clash with his former club PSV Eindhoven at Old Trafford tonight, and is also pencilled in to face the Japanese outfit Urawa Red Diamonds on Thursday.

After that, Ferguson will assess van Nistelrooy’s chances of tackling Arsenal in the Community Shield at the weekend.

Meanwhile West Ham are set to sign Manchester United midfielder Luke Chadwick, the club have confirmed.

The 23-year-old is due to have a medical at Upton Park and is expected to sign a one-year deal.