Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is anticipating a thrilling end to the Premier League season after his side overtook Arsenal at the top.

United beat Derby 1-0 on Saturday, before the Gunners were held at home by Middlesbrough and United are now ahead on goal difference with a game in hand.

Ferguson said: “The league is bubbling up very nicely now, it should be a fantastic finish to the season.” and Wenger added: “We have dropped lots of points and it is a big disappointment.”

Arsenal’s result against Boro was their fourth draw in the league in a row, a run that has seen the Gunners’ five-point lead at the top evaporate.

Wenger continued: “When you are in a race with the opponents we have, it is not ideal to be on this run, but we must keep our spirit and focus. Now we play Chelsea next, so it’s very interesting. We will see at the end of the season what effect this result has. I feel the spirit is there and the players are giving everything, but at the moment it’s not working for us.”

United play their game in hand at home to Bolton on Wednesday and Ferguson said: “Hopefully we can win that as well and stay at the top.”

Chelsea, meanwhile, are only three points behind the top two and have a game in hand on Arsenal, who they entertain at Stamford Bridge on 23 March.

Brazilian international Gilberto Silva says he will consider leaving Arsenal at the end of the season if he fails to break back into the first team.

The midfielder has struggled to hold down a regular place this season with Arsene Wenger often preferring Mathieu Flamini ahead of the Brazilian. “I will wait until the end of the season and then make my decision, If a good opportunity comes along then I don’t see any other option.” – Said Gilberto.

Gilberto also lost the club captaincy to William Gallas at the start of the season and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given the Brazilian just seven league starts all season. Back in November Gilberto said he was happy to stay and fight for his place, but it now appears he wants to leave at the end of the current campaign.

“I love the club and Arsene Wenger is a good man and a good manager, but there are only two months to go and I haven’t played much. I’m trying to adjust to the situation, but I confess it’s not been easy.”

Arsenal believe that striker Eduardo da Silva will make a full recovery from his horror leg break and could be back in action in nine months.

The Brazil-born Croatia international was left in agony by Martin Taylor’s third minute challenge during Saturday’s Premier League clash with Birmingham at St Andrews.

The Gunners have revealed that the force of the challenge broke Eduardo’s left fibula and dislocated his ankle, with Taylor being shown an immediate red card. The Birmingham centre-back has visited Eduardo in hospital, with Blues manager Alex McLeish revealing Taylor is ‘mentally shattered’ by the incident.

Eduardo, who is expected to be discharged from a London hospital in the next few days, could be back in action for Arsene Wenger’s men before the end of the year.

A statement on the club’s official website said: “The club can confirm that following the incident during Saturday’s match at Birmingham City, Eduardo has fractured his left fibula and sustained an open dislocation of his ankle joint in the same leg. “He was immediately taken to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham where he underwent surgery on Saturday evening. The operation was successful and Eduardo was transferred to a London-based hospital on Sunday afternoon. Earlier today (Monday, 25th February), the orthopaedic surgeon and Arsenal medical staff assessed the extent of the damage and possible time-scale for a full recovery.”

“All being well, Eduardo will have his leg in plaster and using crutches for the next six to eight weeks. After that time, partial weight-bearing exercises will be scheduled into a slow rehabilitation process. It is hoped that Eduardo will be running again in six months’ time and making a full recovery after nine months.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his initial comments that Birmingham captain Martin Taylor “should never play football again” were “excessive”. Wenger claimed the third-minute tackle which broke Eduardo’s leg and earned Taylor a red card was “horrendous”.

But later on Saturday Wenger said: “I feel that my comments about Martin Taylor were excessive. I said what I did in the heat of the moment. It was a highly emotional afternoon and we were all shocked by the injury.”

Eduardo, 24, remained lying on the pitch for seven minutes as medical staff attended to him before he was stretchered off and taken to hospital. He underwent surgery for a double compound fracture later on Saturday and will miss the rest of the season, with Wenger fearing a “much longer” absence.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish sprang to the defence of Taylor.

“Martin’s not a dirty player. He’s distraught over Eduardo’s injury, Martin Taylor is adamant there was no malicious intent in the tackle and he is deeply upset by the extent of Eduardo’s injury.”

“I’ve seen the challenge and, yes, the studs land on Eduardo’s ankle. In slow motion these tackles always look bad but he’s not a malicious player – Eduardo was just too quick for him,” he explained.

“The referee’s done his job, it’s a sending off, but Taylor’s not a malicious player. I am saddened that such a fantastic game of football has been marred by a serious injury”.

He added: “Martin Taylor is adamant there was no malicious intent in the tackle and he is deeply upset by the extent of Eduardo’s injury.

“Having reviewed the incident, this (no malicious intent) is clearly the case. The club and Martin Taylor would like to send their very best wishes to the player for a speedy recovery.”

The seriousness of the injury was apparent as both sets of players and medical staff looked shocked while Eduardo was treated on the pitch and the Brazilian-born striker now looks certain to miss out on Croatia’s participation at Euro 2008 in June.

“It was a massive shock for the team. They’ve seen what kind of state he was in, He’s a fantastic guy and to see him in such pain and the shape of his leg was very difficult for the players. We hope he comes back quickly but the minimum is his season is over and we are scared that it is much longer.”

But Wigan boss Steve Bruce, who signed Taylor from Blackburn when he was Blues boss in February 2004, said his former player would never intentionally hurt anyone.

“Martin Taylor is the biggest, gentlest man,” said Bruce. “There will be nobody more upset and sickened than him, there is not a bad bone in his body. He would never, ever do anything malicious. He has mis-timed the tackle, and I’ve seen it. Some would say it is not even a yellow card.”

The tackle came in the 2-2 draw between Birmingham and Arsenal in the English Premier League.

Arsenal have been boosted by the news that the injury suffered by Kolo Toure during the Champions League draw with AC Milan is not as bad as first feared. Boss Arsene Wenger initially feared the worst when Toure limped off after seven minutes with a calf injury.

The Gunners manager told Arsenal TV: “On Wednesday it looked like he would be out for two to four weeks – the way he was walking, perhaps four. But today the medical staff said to me it would be closer to two than four.”

Wenger blamed the injury on over-playing after Toure’s participation at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. The defender was part of the Ivory Coast squad that finished fourth in the tournament after losing to eventual winners Egypt in the semi-final.

Toure will still miss Saturday’s trip to Birmingham, but could return for the Champions League second leg against Milan at the San Siro on 4 March.

Cesc Fabregas has revealed that he is in talks with Arsenal about extending his stay at Emirates Stadium.

The 20-year-old put pen-to-paper on an eight-year contract extension with The Gunners in 2006; but, reported interest from Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid has failed to die down, with the duo regularly expressing their interest in signing the midfielder.

“I have contract in force until 2014, I have six years remaining and I am talking with my club, who are interested in renegotiating it,” Fabregas told Cadena Ser.

“I want to succeed at Arsenal and the fact that the club wants me is fundamental for me. I am proud to hear from Barca, I am from Barcelona and I have played there. But now I only think of winning as many titles as possible here.”

Fabregas has tallied 30 appearances for The Gunners so far this season, scoring an impressive 12 goals from midfield.