United look untouchable - Wenger

Arsene Wenger has all but admitted Arsenal will not challenge for the Premier League title after describing Manchester United as "untouchable".

Wenger: All but given up on title

United sit two points clear of Liverpool with a game in hand at the top of the table, with Arsenal a worrying 12 points off the pace in fifth.

Wenger, whose Gunners side went unbeaten in 2003/04, is refusing to give up on having a say in the title race but admits the Red Devils are currently some distance clear of the pack.

The two-goal return of Croatia striker Eduardo after a year out in Monday night's 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round replay win over Cardiff gave Arsenal fans reason for cheer, but Wenger has warned that long-time rivals United will take some stopping.

"We are on a very strong run at the moment and we have promised to give everything until the last day of the season but at the moment Manchester United look untouchable," confessed the Arsenal boss.

"They are 12 points ahead of us and they have a game against Fulham which they will certainly win. If they win that they are 15 points in front and that means they need to lose five games.

"Let us say they lose one against us, that still leaves four. They still need to lose four other games, which they haven't done yet this season.

"But our basic target is to get into the Champions League and therefore the championship remains a priority."

Jo 'at home' at Goodison Park

verton's newest signing Jo says the warm welcome he has received at Goodison Park has enabled him to settle quickly on Merseyside.

Jo: At the double against Bolton

With David Moyes short of fit strikers, he bolstered his attacking options before the transfer window closed by landing Jo on loan.

The Brazilian mustered only one Premier League goal for Manchester City but has already exceeded that at Everton after his brace in the win over Bolton.

The former CSKA Moscow striker has revealed being thrown in at the deep end by Moyes was a confidence-booster in itself.

"It makes a difference going into a settled team full of mates rather than an all-star one of strangers," said Jo. "City are trying to build a team, it is a new project, so it is a lot different than here.

"The players are still going to know each other, so it is something that is still building up.

"But here everything was right from the start, the players made me feel really welcome. I felt at home from the first moment I walked in.

"The manager has put a lot of trust in me so when I went into the game I felt confident, even though I'd not played in a while."

United taking small steps to glory

Manchester United will carry on chasing progress in four competitions and try not to worry about winning the lot, according to Mike Phelan.

Phelan: One step at a time

The newly-crowned Club World champions have already booked a Carling Cup final appearance against Tottenham at the start of next month, and beat West Ham on Sunday to regain a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League, with a game in hand on second-placed Liverpool.

They also have a Champions League last-16 clash with Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan to look forward to, although before that comes a trip to Derby on Sunday at the same stage of the FA Cup.

Yet as each game passes in a congested fixture list, so the murmurings of an unprecedented quadruple become louder, not that the United camp are paying any notice.

"Everybody wants the four trophies but it has never been done," reflected Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant Phelan.

"It is obviously difficult and we are just happy to be in it at the moment, getting nearer to the finishing line in every competition.

"The club has been built to sustain challenges in four competitions, so now we will look to the FA Cup and try to pick the right team for Sunday."

The awesome strength of United's squad can be seen in the fact Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Wes Brown were not even called upon to sit on the bench after their recent injuries.

In addition, Gary Neville has a virus, while Owen Hargreaves has been written off altogether this season as he recovers from two knee operations to cure a tendinitis problem.

Yet still United find themselves clear of the pack following the win at Upton Park, knowing their lead on Liverpool will widen to five points, with Aston Villa and Chelsea eight and 10 points adrift respectively, should they win that extra match against Fulham at Old Trafford on February 18.

It is hard to see anyone closing that gap, yet Phelan is refusing to take anything for granted.

"It is a race, that is the thing," he said. "Where the challenge comes from doesn't really matter.

"If we train well and play well, pick the right team and the players do their jobs we have a good chance to capitalise."

Carragher: Torres key to title tilt

Jamie Carragher believes Fernando Torres' return to goalscoring form is vital to Liverpool's Premier League title challenge this season.

Torres followed up his brace against Chelsea with the dramatic late winner at Portsmouth on Saturday to briefly take the Reds back above Manchester United in the race for the Premier League crown.
United moved to the top once again after winning 1-0 at West Ham, and Carragher told the club's official website: "Fernando is massive to our title challenge. It's credit to the players and the staff that we are where we are considering he's been missing for a long time this season.
"To get him back, the way he's been firing against Chelsea with a couple of great goals and then he's done the damage against Portsmouth has gained us an extra four points in two Premier League games.
"If he can keep doing that for the rest of the season then we'll run whoever it is close for the title.
"At the moment Fernando is just coming back to fitness and he played into extra-time on Wednesday and now he'll be going away with Spain so given the injuries he's had this season the manager is being very careful with him. He's doing okay with the goals he's scoring but he's not quite 100%. Given that, if he keeps coming on and scoring then we've got something to look forward to in the coming months when he is fully fit."

Drogba: Blues will turn corner

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba admits he is currently finding things "a little difficult" but has vowed to help the club get back on track.

Drogba (r): Confident things will get better

Drogba has fallen out of favour under Luiz Felipe Scolari, and his introduction in place of Ricardo Quaresma against Hull on Saturday prompted taunts of 'You don't know what you're doing' from fans towards the Blues boss.

But the 30-year-old is confident both he and the west London outfit - who slipped to fourth in the Premier League after being held to a goalless draw by the Tigers - will overcome their current troubles.

"It's a little difficult at the moment, but we will find ways to return," he told L'Equipe. "I hope in the Champions League we will do well.

"You can't have a 10-year career where everything is great. I am in a period like that - a little less good.

"Is this difficult to experience? If I say no, people will say I am not ambitious. If I say yes, people will think I am demoralised when it is really not the case.

"It is not easy but it is not the end of the world. The main thing is that I am in good health physically."

The Ivory Coast frontman, who stopped off in France en route to Turkey for Wednesday's friendly international, played down talk he could be interested in a return to Marseille.

"Nino (Wiltord) is there and Brandao has just arrived. Let's trust these people rather than talk about Drogba," he said after watching his former team beat Bordeaux 1-0 at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday.