MANCHESTER, England -- Alex Ferguson said Manchester United will prove they are over their recent blip by beating Arsenal at Old Trafford Saturday.

With six points behind the leaders, the United manager said his side must haul Arsenal in to ensure they have a chance of taking the title when players like David Beckham, Roy Keane and Nicky Butt return from injury.

"They are a good side, a powerful team, very quick and have a big squad of players," Ferguson told reporters Friday. "The important thing is for us to think we can get to within three points off them. I know I have players coming back and when they reappear at Christmas time then we have four months to do something."

Ferguson said he was pleased to be so close to Arsenal after a run of injuries left United enduring a nightmare start to the season, Reuters reported.

"We are like every club, we show the same frailties as every other club," he said.

"We have blips. Early season we has some injuries we found difficult to cope with. Now we are picking a regular side who have played three or four games.

"With consistency of selection, they've shown consistency of results. That's the great thing about football.

"When you are left with just 11 or 12 players to choose from things sometimes get better. "This is the biggest test of the season. With them six points clear, it will be one game everyone will want us to win. It's an unusual situation for United, a landmark occasion. It is a big game for us."

Henry Danger Ferguson pinpointed Thierry Henry as Arsenal's dangerman, although he still believes the striker is best on the left flank.

"I am not even sure Henry is a striker to be honest with you, where he plays in the game," he said. "He normally plays on the left hand side of attack. It is a different role from which Ruud van Nistelrooy plays. He is still a marvelous player and a big threat to anyone."

Ferguson is happy with United's form after beating Newcastle United and Liverpool in their last two Premier League games.

"We knew we could get six points despite the injuries. United on their day are capable of beating anyone, that's why we have won all these trophies," he said.

"It is not by figments of the imagination, it's by deeds on the pitch and we have been able to do that for years. Since the derby match (against Manchester City when United lost 3-1) the players have done exceptionally well.

"It may have been a defining moment for the us, the defeat at City in terms of enough is enough. "Certainly the defensive part has been fantastic ever since and there is a great determination about the place and a great spirit in the camp and these things will always give us a chance at Old Trafford."