Manchester United will be out to prove this season that Arsenal's title success in May was a blip in their domination of the English premier league rather than a long-term shift in power to London.

Arsenal achieved something their main rivals never have when they became the first English top-flight club in over a century to go through a league season unbeaten.

But United believe greatness is measured in championships and with eight wins in the premier league's 12-year history they remain the only club to have successfully retained the title.

Arsenal's chances of emulating that feat are now threatened as much by big-spending Chelsea as by the Old Trafford club but United are always in the hunt and will again be hard to beat.

While Arsenal drew first blood in their 3-1 Community Shield victory on Sunday it is hard to draw conclusions from that match since both clubs fielded weakened teams and United had one eye on their Champions League qualifier in Romania on Wednesday.

Indeed, United manager Alex Ferguson expects his side to put up a greater fight than last season, when they finished outside the top two in the premier league for only the second time.

"It's not easy to win the title but the really disappointing thing is that we did not challenge," Ferguson told MUTV.

"All the time I've been here we have always challenged. Once we get in that situation we have a great chance because of the experience most of the players have got."

FERDINAND RETURN

Ferguson does not accept United were not good enough to win the title last season despite finishing 15 points adrift.

He believes the long-term suspension of Rio Ferdinand for missing a drugs test, allied to other defensive injuries, proved to be the key as United slipped off the pace.

Ferdinand returns in September and Ferguson has recruited a new left back in Argentine Gabriel Heinze from Paris St Germain, although like Cristiano Ronaldo he will miss the start of the season through playing at the Olympic Games.

The United manager also expects midfielders Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djemba to be far more effective in their second seasons in England.

Nicky Butt has left for Newcastle United but Paul Scholes's retirement from international football should aid United's cause and their midfield options are strengthened further by the signing of Liam Miller from Celtic.

Despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's continuing injury problems, former Leeds United striker Alan Smith, who scored a fine goal against Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, will add to the firepower provided by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha.

Media speculation suggests a January move for Everton's England striker Wayne Rooney is a possibility.

Ferguson will be keen, too, to avoid being second best again to Arsene Wenger or Chelsea's new manager Jose Mourinho, who knocked out United en route to Champions League glory with Porto in May before taking over at Stamford Bridge.

"I'm very optimistic about the coming nine months," Ferguson said. "We have a good squad already and have added to it well."