Champions won’t be easing off

SIR Alex Ferguson insists his Manchester United champions will keep their intensity right up to the end of the season.

The United boss saw a Robin van Persie penalty and a battling United performance deprive Arsenal of two points in their quest for Champions League qualification with a 1–1 draw at the Emirates stadium yesterday.

Ferguson now promises Chelsea will face an equally determined United at Old Trafford next weekend — even though United can’t now post a record league points total.

"Nobody could say we relaxed too much against Arsenal, I thought we had the edge to the game in the second half," Ferguson said.

Van Persie was afforded a guard of honour on to the Emirates pitch by the Arsenal players but was booed by Gunners fans throughout the match on his first return to Arsenal since joining United for £24million last summer.

Ferguson praised Van Persie's equilibrium as he took , and scored, the penalty.

"He kept his nerve, that was important," said Ferguson. "It was a difficult time for him, the chanting from the fans does not help, but he kept his cool."

United had most of the clear–cut chances after Theo Walcott had put Arsenal ahead with a crisp shot past goalkeeper David De Gea after just two minutes in a match which started at a breakneck pace and saw five United players booked.

“We were the team making the chances. Credit to Arsenal though, they kept fighting to the end."