Gunning for 2002

Arsenal leads, but Man Utd looms entering New Year

Phil Neville and Manchester United have gotten on a roll. Gary M. Prior/Getty Images/Allsport

LONDON (AP) -- Arsenal may lead the English Premier League on the last day of the year, but all eyes will be on the looming force of a revived Manchester United in the first games of 2002.

Only three points separate first from fifth as all 20 clubs play on Tuesday or Wednesday. Arsenal, with 39 points, leads Newcastle on goal difference. Leeds is third with 38 points, followed by Liverpool with 37 and defending champion Manchester United with 36 points.

"We've got an uphill fight, we can't afford to make a mistake," Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said. "All the teams up at the top have got a fantastic chance and everyone can win it."

Arsenal should stay at the top of the ladder with a visit to struggling bottom place Leicester on Tuesday, while Newcastle faces the challenge of a resurgent Manchester United on Wednesday.

Also on Tuesday, Leeds hosts West Ham, which has overcome early season struggles to record a 1-0 win over Manchester United and a 1-1 draw against Liverpool in December.

Liverpool, which has battled inconsistency throughout December, hosts Bolton. Chelsea, in sixth place with 33 points and a 2-1 win over Newcastle Saturday, hosts Southampton.

United's revival has come after it lost six games -- the same number it lost in winning the title for the seventh time in nine years last season -- and was marked by the return of Ryan Giggs from injury and the absence of David Beckham.

Sunday, the club won its fifth consecutive game, with Giggs starring in United's 3-2 win at Fulham, scoring two goals and setting up Ruud van Nistelrooy for the third. England captain Beckham started his first game since being dropped on Dec. 1, but struggled to find form.

With Ferguson apparently willing to reconsider his retirement at the end of the season, the Reds are anxious for a strong farewell season.

"We are used to winning," Giggs said. "We have the experience of going into the last part of the season being right up there. We've got to concentrate on that run and keep on winning because we know it will be difficult. There is a lot of ground for us to make up. But the ability has always been there. We just needed to go on a run."

With wins over Arsenal, Leeds and Middlesbrough, Newcastle led the Premier League for most of December. But its 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday saw Arsenal go to the top on goal difference.

"The first half of the season has gone very well, and now it is a case of making sure the second half goes well too," said Newcastle manager Bobby Robson. "I am not afraid; we will bounce back. This is the most confident we have gone to Old Trafford. This year we have caught up with them. I just he hope he [Ferguson] leaves Giggs and Beckham out."

While Leicester attempts to beat Arsenal for the first time in 13 attempts, Gunners striker Dennis Bergkamp just wants a start. The Dutch forward made an outstanding contribution against Middlesbrough, but is unlikely to start on Tuesday.

"He doesn't have to accept that he is an impact player for us now," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "He is super-professional in his attitude and he will start games, don't worry. What is important is the togetherness in the team. Even when players don't start, they come on and fight for the team."

After an unbeaten run in November, Liverpool has only one win in its last five games, losing two. Despite the club's inconsistent form, stand-in manager Phil Thompson said the players would be inspired by their form in 2001, when the club won five trophies including the UEFA Cup.

"I am looking forward to the New Year because both myself and [manager] Gerard Houllier believe in the players we have here and we know they are capable of more success," Thompson said. "There is a real hunger and desire for more trophies and more success and there's no reason why we can't achieve it."

In other Tuesday games, Everton manager Walter Smith needs a win at Middlesbrough to keep his job after being beaten 3-0 by Charlton on Saturday. Charlton hosts Ipswich three days after the Blues thrashed Sunderland 5-0, while Blackburn is hoping to field former Manchester United striker Andy Cole for the first time in its game at Tottenham.

Aston Villa travels to Sunderland Tuesday while Wednesday's other game is Derby against Fulham.

In the English first division, leader Burnley has a one-point lead over Manchester City, the team that hammered it 5-1 on Saturday. On Tuesday, Burnley plays Bradford, while City travels to Sheffield United.

Wednesday features a full slate of Scotland's Premier League. Leader Celtic, which has a 10 point lead, hosts Motherwell, second placed Rangers travels to Kilmarnock while third placed Livingston plays Aberdeen.

Van Nistelrooy hails new striker partner Giggs

Ruud van Nistelrooy says the return of Ryan Giggs to the Manchester United line-up is the main reason for champions' recent return to form.

Giggs has played in four games since recovering from a hamstring injury and Alex Ferguson's side has won every one.

What's more, his unexpected strike partnership with the Dutchman has brought five goals in just two matches.

"Ryan's qualities are so special -- for me he is the best player in the team," van Nistelrooy told Monday's Manchester Evening News.

"He has everything. He's got the pace, the touch and he can score goals and supply them. What more could you want in a player?

"Defenders have to watch him all the time. He can dribble or hold the ball and is quick behind the defense. It has been very good working with Ryan up front."

Ferguson has long envisaged playing Giggs as a more central front player and even bought Swedish winger Jesper Blomqvist in 1998 to allow the Welshman to switch roles.

But a long-term injury to Blomqvist left Giggs patrolling his regular left flank with Paul Scholes instead being pushed up front earlier this season.

However, Giggs was given his head and scored against Everton December 26, following up with two goals, an assist for Van Nistelrooy and an all-round man-of-the-match display in the 3-2 win over Fulham on Sunday.

The two men forged a great partnership, with each able to anticipate the other's moves, in a way that never worked with Scholes.

"He's got great penetration, and he can beat men and hold the ball up for us. I thought he did very, very well for us," Ferguson said of the Welshman who has shared all seven of his league titles.

Giggs' new role has eased the pressure to buy a new striker to replace Andy Cole, who was sold to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, though the club have been reported to be watching Independiente's 22-year-old Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan.

Owen says instinct, not pace, is key to goalscoring

Liverpool striker Michael Owen has rejected the idea that he would be an average striker without his electric speed.

"Only about 20 percent of my goals are due to my pace," said the 2001 European Footballer of the Year, who scored his 100th Liverpool goal at West Ham United on Saturday.

"If I only had pace I'd have become a sprinter rather than a footballer. Ninety percent of goals by any striker are instinctive," the England international told the Liverpool Echo newspaper on Monday.

Owen said he had been working on how to combat defenders who try to keep the ball away from his deadly right foot.

"This season I've set out to improve on my variation of goals," he said.

"I've noticed defenders are always trying to get me on to my left foot but since then I've scored more with my left and my head."

The 22-year-old could have reached the 100-goal milestone sooner had his career not been hit by a series of hamstring injuries.

"I wouldn't say I played too much because I've always wanted to play every game," Owen said.

"Yes, I've had injury problems, but I'm only 22 and I've already played over 200 games for my club and country.

"I've had one bad injury but I've no regrets in my career so far."

Owen has now targeted another 100 goals for Liverpool despite the recent arrival of Nicolas Anelka at the club -- another player known for his pace.

"Hopefully, I can get 200 goals for Liverpool now. It's a great milestone to get 100 goals and I'm very proud to have achieved it alongside great names like Robbie Fowler and Ian Rush.

"It's terrific to do it with such a great club, but I won't rest on that. I'm after the next 100."

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Reuters contributed to this report.