Wenger: United are 'lucky' to still be unbeaten this season

Arsene Wenger yesterday declared that Manchester United had been "lucky" to make it through 21 Premier League games undefeated and said the pressures attached to a tilt at the unbeaten "Invincibles" crown would kick in during the last five games of the season – during which they face his Arsenal side at the Emirates.

On the day when Alex McLeish, who takes Birmingham City to Old Trafford this afternoon, said that his old manager Sir Alex Ferguson could match Wenger's 2003-04 achievement and go through the entire league campaign undefeated, Wenger questioned the offensive dimension to United's game and said – not unreasonably – that it simply did not compare to the defence. "Do you ask me can they still do it?" Wenger said of United going all 38 league games unbeaten. "Certainly, because they have not been beaten yet. Have they been a bit lucky until now? Certainly, but we'll see. I don't know more than you."

Wenger, whose rapprochement of recent years with Ferguson was damaged this season when the United manager did not take kindly to the Frenchman's criticism of the Old Trafford pitch, said there had been a diminution of the traditional United style, despite their position at the top of the table. "They are solid defensively more than offensively," Wenger said. "So they get through games. You saw the game against Tottenham, they managed to play 0-0 and Tottenham is a difficult place to go. You cannot rule it out and you cannot say for sure they will do it [go undefeated]."

Wenger cited United's 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion on New Year's Day, in which Roberto di Matteo's side missed a penalty and were denied another for a challenge which should have seen Gary Neville dismissed, as an example of their good luck. But he clearly believes that it will take more than good fortune to see them through to the finish line. It is "with five games to go" that the enormity of the potential achievement kicks in for a side which has gone unbeaten, Wenger said.

Ferguson is all too aware that the pressure can start even sooner: the Scot does not welcome questions on the unbeaten record and maintains that his side will lose at some stage this season. "It won't happen again," he said of the "Invincibles" feat, last month. "It was a great achievement but in this present league you cannot think for a minute you will go through undefeated." This is his device for cooling the expectation which the run is gradually fuelling.

For once, it is an experience in which Wenger has the advantage on Ferguson. "You always think about winning the championship, but with five games to go," Wenger said, "you think about, 'Oh we can add something to that', but you don't think about that with 16 games to go. For me it's very difficult to speak about [their good fortune at Spurs] because it makes quick headlines and I'm more concerned by our performance.

"First, what is important is to beat Man United, and we have only a chance with the run they have if we do exceptionally well until the end of the season. So, I focus on that, knowing that they have a difficult schedule as well. If they have five games to go and they are still unbeaten come back to me, I'll say, 'Now they can do it'."

That five-game run-in is certainly an immense one for Ferguson, whose side face Chelsea at Old Trafford seven days after travelling to the Emirates. Wenger's comments will raise the temperature for their 30 April collision, last month's match having been preceded by United's Patrice Evra suggesting that Arsenal resemble a "football training centre" and that their six years without silverware constitutes "a crisis".

Thierry Henry, who was at a Football Writers' Association dinner in London to collect a tribute award last week, is contemplating the prospect of United staying unbeaten. It is understood that he dreads Arsenal's achievement being matched or eclipsed by United. But McLeish said: "I think it's ominous, the fact that they've got to this stage unbeaten and their form is probably gathering momentum. Of course they can [go through the season unbeaten]." The preponderance of draws in United's season – nine already, including eight out of 10 matches away from home – mirror Arsenal's 12 draws in 2003-04.

Though Ferguson may today call on Fabio da Silva, whose twin Rafael was yesterday handed a one-match ban, fined £8,000 and warned as to his future conduct over his dismissal at Spurs, McLeish's problem is how to find a way through the defence Wenger respects and to which the Frenchman attributed his club's defeat last month. Only three sides in the top four divisions have let in fewer than United's seven goals at home.