Wenger vows to crash United title party

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-15 09:56

LONDON - Arsene Wenger has vowed to wreck Manchester United's plans for a Premier League title party at Old Trafford on Saturday.

United need just a point from their lunchtime meeting with the Gunners to wrap up a third consecutive league triumph and equal Liverpool's record of 18 English titles.

But Wenger insists his players will be determined to delay the celebrations and claim revenge for their Champions League semifinal defeat by United, which led many to question the Frenchman's reliance on his homegrown youngsters.

"We have a very promising team who can deliver very soon," Wenger claimed Thursday. "If you look at the statistics of the two teams, we have scored a similar amount of goals. In the passing quality in the final third and in the opposition half, we are as good as Manchester United.

"We have conceded more goals and that is where the difference lies; we have conceded 36, they have conceded 24, we have scored 64, they have scored 67.

"Offensively, I do not believe there is a difference. Defensively, there was a difference."

Even if they lose to Arsenal, United will still be champions if they pick up a point at struggling Hull on the final day of the season or if Liverpool drop any points in their two remaining matches, away to West Brom and at home to Tottenham.

Arsene Wenger, seen here on April 30, has vowed to wreck Manchester United's plans for a Premier League title party at Old Trafford. [Agencies]

"It looks like it will be Manchester United, but we can still delay it," Wenger added. "We have a point to prove, definitely.

"We want to play for our pride and be respected for who we are, that is people who love the game they play. We promised ourselves on January 1 we would give everything in every game until the end of the season.

"That is where we can show we are capable to do that."

Despite his faith in his own squad, Wenger acknowledges that United deserve to be on top. "The 18-point gap (between United and Arsenal) is a reflection we have to take on the chin," he said. "What people forget is that we were very far behind and we dropped too many points.

"Manchester United are world champions, European champions and will be champions of England. Everybody has to cope with that, not accept it and come back next year and beat them."