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.

Manchester United captain Gary Neville made his longest competitive outing since being injured nearly a year ago in a reserve team match on Wednesday.

The full-back’s 73 minutes in the 1-0 defeat by Sunderland marks his latest stride towards a first-team return. Neville, 33, now appears to have finally recovered from a combination of ankle and groin problems.

He even had a chance to notch a rare goal but was thwarted from close range by Black Cats goalkeeper Marton Fulop.

Neville, who has made over 500 appearances for United, suffered ankle ligament damage just 11 minutes into the match against Bolton at Old Trafford in March 2007.

Since then he has not played first-team football and has made a number of comebacks since, only to suffer further setbacks.

He last played at the end of February, lasting 60 minutes for the club’s reserve team in a 2-0 defeat by Liverpool’s second string. The defender is also back training with the first-team squad.

Sir Alex Ferguson insists he has not set a date for when he will step down as manager of Manchester United. The 66-year-old told French radio this week that he could retire in 2011.

But  said: “It’s something I’ve said quite a bit. If your health is good and you are enjoying your job it could be two or three years, who knows? I am not going to pigeonhole myself on that one. It could be four years. Who knows, it could be tomorrow. It is impossible to put a time limit on it.”

Ferguson, who has won 18 trophies since he took charge at Old Trafford in 1986, originally planned to retire in 2005 but changed his mind. That decision was vindicated as he rebuilt his side and United went on to clinch last season’s Premier League crown.

United are still in line for the Treble for the first time since 1999 and face Portsmouth in the FA Cup on Saturday. They are also aiming to retain their league title and have already booked a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after beating Lyon this week.

Giggs, who was signed by Ferguson as a schoolboy 20 years ago, stated: “I can’t see it in the near future. He has a hunger for the game and he is enjoying it more than ever. He is enjoying the way the team plays and his desire is there for all to see. It has got to happen at some time but I can’t see it in the near future.”

Manchester United suffered a setback to their title hopes as they were beaten by derby rivals Manchester City. A poignant minute’s silence and tribute looked set to start an emotional derby match.

In this weeks Premier League match of the week, an early Darius Vasell strike put the English Premier League side ahead of United, and they became stifled again by a staunch City side who extended their lead with a glanced Benjani Mwaruwari header. United struggled overall but got a consolation goal when Michael Carrick shot into the corner in injury time.

The hugely emotive occasion had begun in moving scenes at Old Trafford in respect to the 23 – of which eight were players from the Old Trafford club – who died in the Munich air disaster on 6 February 1958. United’s players wore 1958-style sponsorless red shirts numbered one to 11, while City also wore special shirts. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and counterpart Sven-Goran Eriksson each laid a wreath either side of the centre circle before an impeccably observed minute’s silence.

The disruption to the silence feared beforehand did not materialise and, instead, the clubs paid their respects as the city came together to produce a touching tribute before the game got under way. United appeared in determined mood and quickly set about City and put the visitors on the backfoot.A piercing Nani ball found Carlos Tevez and he crossed to the far post for the unmarked Ryan Giggs, whose acute-angled strike was tipped over by keeper Joe Hart.

City slowly began to gather themselves but were given another scare when Micah Richards was outpaced by Tevez only for fellow centre-back Richard Dunne to retrieve the situation by blocking the United striker’s shot.  Richards survived a handball shout just outside the City area before the visitors broke United’s brief early grip.

Martin Petrov slid a defence-splitting pass into Stephen Ireland’s clever run and his poked shot was blocked by on-rushing keeper Edwin van der Sar.  The ball fell to Vassell and he powered in at the second attempt after his first strike was blocked by Van der Sar.

A Tevez turn and shot was parried away by Hart, Cristiano Ronaldo had a shot deflected wide by Dunne and Nemanja Vidic poked as United attempted to equalise. But City were disciplined and organised as they kept United, who seemed to get more affected by the occasion after going behind, at bay.

And they shocked the hosts again with a second on the stroke of half time. Left-winger Petrov was a constant threat to United with his pace and delivery and he crossed from the right for Benjani to glance in a header across goal.

Richards and Dunne were immense for City at the back as they refused to give an out-of-sorts United any kind of sight on goal with a powerful performance. Giggs did get a rare chance for the home side but his angled shot went wide as United’s threat decreased as the game wore on and any expected pressure did not materialise.

Carrick’s consolation strike from 18 yards came too late for United, who were without Wayne Rooney and lost their first game at home in the league this season.

City’s win saw them complete the first league double over their arch-rivals for the first time since the 1969/70 season.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reiterated his desire to play in Spain one day.

The Manchester United star is rumoured to be closing in on a new five-year deal at Old Trafford, but he admits he does want to try his hand in La Liga.

Ronaldo is having a wonderful season in England, grabbing 27 goals so far this term already, and he is now rated amongst the world’s best.

Real Madrid have always harboured hopes of landing the Portuguese ace – who was speaking before his country’s friendly clash with Italy on Wednesday.

“I feel well in England,” he told state broadcaster TVI. “I would like to play in Spain one day. I also would like to play in Portugal [again] and Italy, but much more in Spain.”

“Many players are talented, but if that talent is not developed they will never go anywhere, I keep improving everything I have. Four years ago I was not the player I am now. I improved and I better understand the team-game concept. I think I still can improve. My learning process has not finished yet.”

Manchester United are expected to offer Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo a new, 6 year contract.

United have been tempted to offer Ronaldo the new deal after Real Madrid showed an interest in signing Ronaldo. Madrid were supposedly lining up a £80 million offer for the winger.

The six-year contract is expected to be worth a massive £44 million, which would make Ronaldo the best paid player in the Premier League. The deal, would mean Ronaldo would be paid £150,000 per week.

Ronaldo has been in stunning form for the current English Premier League Champions, and has been pivotal to their success, scoring 27 goals for the Manchester side.