Gunners still in the driving seat for title, says Vieira

PATRICK VIEIRA reckons Arsenal are still in the driving seat in the race to win the Premiership title.

Kolo Toure’s second-half own goal meant the Gunners had to be content with a 1-1 draw from their visit to

Aston Villa and they now only lead Alex Ferguson’s side on goal difference.

They face a testing week in their bid to repeat last season’s double success with an FA Cup semi-final with Sheffield United on Sunday and a potential title decider with the Red Devils at Highbury three days later on April 16.

But Vieira, who has indicated that he would like to end his career at Arsenal, remains confident that the Premiership is theirs to lose.

He said: “The next home game with Manchester United will be huge but we all love to play in those kind of games. We were disappointed to drop two points at Villa. We didn’t play well but having taken the lead we should have kept it.

“But with six games to go we are still top and that is the main thing. The destiny of the title remains in our own hands. Our confidence is still there. We’ve now got two huge games but it is not the first time we have been in this position. It was the same in 1998 and 2002 when Arsenal did the double.

“The hardest thing is to do that once. When you’ve done that, you know what to expect and what is needed next time and that experience is going to be on our side.”

Toure echoed Vieira’s sentiments and said: “We know we can beat United because we’ve done it before. We are ready to play against them and I’m confident about that.” Vieira was forced to play with strapping around his knee but Arsene Wenger does not believe that the problem is a major cause for concern.

He said: “He had pain in the final 15 minutes when playing for France against Israel in the week but I don’t think it is something that is going to affect him long term.”

Villa striker Marcus Allback was given a rare slice of first-team action and his hustling was crucial in the build-up to the Toure blunder which earned the home side a precious point in their bid to stay out of relegation trouble.

But Allback is still convinced that the Premiership title will again be heading to Highbury in May despite Manchester United’s refusal to let up in their pursuit of the Gunners.

The Swedish international, on target twice for his country in the mid-week win over Hungary, said: “It is going to be really tough. United won 4-0 against Liverpool and now there is little in it.

“But I still think Arsenal are going to win the title. For me they have lots more speed on the ball and all their players are quick in terms of pace and are also quick thinkers.

“I think they are going to take the championship again although I am sure that United will run them very close and not give up. They know themselves what winning titles is all about.”

Allback, who will decide on his future at the end of the season, admitted to being more relaxed when trying to make an impression as a second half substitute than in previous outings for Villa.

He said: “I’ve had a few times when I’ve come on and felt that I really had to make a big impression so that can make you over anxious but it wasn’t like that on Saturday.

“I think the fact that I had played 90 minutes for Sweden and scored a couple of goals really helped me going into the Arsenal game and it was nice to play a part in the build-up to the goal.

“I thought it was not really an English type of game. There were not many long balls. where you just have to fight for things. Arsenal wanted to play and we tried as well. It was a fun game to play in and I enjoyed it.”