Arsenal won't hold their nerve, says Sir Alex

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson picked up the gauntlet of Arsenal's title challenge last night and declared: 'We'll fight you to the finish.'

Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Blackburn on Monday and United's derby defeat by Manchester City on Sunday left the Barclays Premier League champions five points behind Arsene Wenger's men with 12 games left, while Chelsea are just three points behind the Old Trafford side.

Although winger Ryan Giggs believes United cannot afford to lose another game, Ferguson insists his side will keep the pressure on Arsenal to set up a thrilling finish to the season.

Ferguson said: 'It's something the neutrals will all be enthralled by. We know the job we've got to do. Arsenal still have to come to Old Trafford and they have got to go to Chelsea.

'It was an important weekend for Arsenal in that ourselves and Chelsea dropped points, but points will be dropped by the top teams. There is a long way to go and it makes it interesting now. It's going to be a really good, tight finish.

'It's like I said at the start of the season. I think it will go to the wire.'

Ferguson was speaking at the launch of the Vodacom Challenge, a summer tournament held in South Africa which United will take part in this summer.

The three-team tournament will also feature top South African club sides Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates between July 19-26.

The Red Devils last participated in the event in 2006, when they lost in the final to the Chiefs on a penalty shoot-out.

United will face each side, before a Soweto derby between the Chiefs and the Pirates for the right to face the Barclays Premier League champions again in the final.

"The 2008 Vodacom Challenge will mark Manchester United's third visit to South Africa and will create a platform for many a rising star to elevate their level of play in order to strive to become a regular member of the Manchester United starting line-up for the new English Premiership season," Ferguson said.

Meanwhile, new signing Manucho pipped household names Samuel Eto'o, of Barcelona, and Chelsea's Didier Drogba to make the all-star representative team of the African Nations Cup.

Manucho, 24, scored four times for Angola at the tournament and now switches to Panathinaikos, where he will remain on loan for the rest of the current season.