London: What was shaping up to be a title decider for Manchester United and Arsenal is now a chance for Alex Ferguson's side to all but secure the Premier League trophy while compounding the hosts' disappointing end to the season.
United goes to Arsenal on Sunday nine points ahead of third-place Arsenal and six in front of Chelsea with four games remaining.
Arsenal has won just one of its last seven matches while United has produced four victories in that time to raise the prospect of a record 19th English title next month.
Chelsea remains the biggest threat to United's ambitions after a recent revival, but Carlo Ancelotti's side will have to beat London rival Tottenham on Saturday to maintain the pressure ahead of a trip to Old Trafford on May 8.
"Sunday is a massive game for us," United left back Patrice Evra said. "It is a great opportunity (but) there is still a lot of pressure on us.
"If we lose and Chelsea have beaten Tottenham on Saturday, they will only be three points behind and they have to come to Manchester. That is what we have to think about now."
While the title race could be wrapped up a couple of weeks before the end of the season, the fight to stay up is set to go down to the wire.
Three points separates the bottom five teams, with West Ham propping up the rest following a run of four straight losses.
The Hammers visit fourth-place Manchester City, which is five points behind Arsenal with a game in hand. Also on Sunday, second-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers travels to Birmingham. Wigan, the other team in the relegation zone, hosts Everton on Saturday.
Evra caused controversy before United's home match against Arsenal by branding the Gunners merely "a training center" and claiming nobody would remember their football in 20 years' time.
The France defender has toned down his words ahead of the return match at Emirates Stadium.
"You have to fear the wounded animal," he said. "It is all or nothing for Arsenal, so that is a danger. They will want to show they can still win the title."
Fresh from starring for United in the 2-0 win at Schalke in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday, veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs will be rested by Ferguson.
Striker Dimitar Berbatov, who is bidding to overcome a groin injury, and winger Nani will be hoping to return to the first team, with Ferguson reporting a near fully fit squad.
"We've got selection problems now but that's what we want," said Ferguson.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hasn't given up hope of the title, although he acknowledged after Sunday's 2-1 loss to Bolton that the team's chances were "very minimal."
Belgium center back Thomas Vermaelen, who has missed almost the entire season with an Achilles' tendon injury, is back in full training but must prove his fitness in reserve games before Wenger picks him in the first team.
Fernando Torres ended his 15-hour scoring drought for Chelsea after coming off the bench to hit the team's second goal in the 3-0 win over West Ham last weekend, and the Spain striker could replace Didier Drogba up front against Spurs at Stamford Bridge.
"It (the goal) is very good for his confidence," Chelsea winger Florent Malouda said. "We're going to have more goals from Torres before the end of the season."
The reigning champions are the form team in the league, having won six of their last seven matches.
Tottenham has won only once in the league since Feb. 12, endangering its hopes of a second straight season in the Champions League. Spurs will be looking nervously at rejuvenated Liverpool, which is three points behind in sixth having played a game more.
Liverpool hosts Newcastle at Anfield on Sunday.
The rest of the games are on Saturday, when fourth-bottom Blackpool is at home to Stoke, Bolton visits fifth-bottom Blackburn, Sunderland hosts Fulham and Aston Villa goes to central England rival West Bromwich Albion.
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