Peter Schmeichel insists only Arsenal can compete with Manchester United for fourth place this season

Peter Schmeichel believes only Arsenal can compete with Manchester United for fourth place in the Premier League after this weekend’s results.

The Red Devils beat rivals Leeds United 4-2 at Elland Road, keeping them in fourth in the table, four points ahead of West Ham in fifth and the Gunners in sixth.

Mikel Arteta’s side also sealed victory on Saturday, beating Brentford 2-1 at home thanks to goals from Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, while West Ham drew 1-1 with Newcastle United.

Schmeichel believes Arsenal’s recent form could see them be the only club to compete with United for the final Champions League place.

“I think Arsenal have shown some great form,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“But actually, on current form in the last five games, Man United is a little bit better than Arsenal. It’s hard to see but they are.

“I think having the points on the board rather than games in hand [is more important].”

There have been reports suggesting there is an uneasy atmosphere in the Red Devils changing room, however, the former goalkeeper thinks the win over Leeds showed that the team are ‘united’.

Schmeichel added: “Manchester United in periods of no success is a great, great story and you will read so many things.

“People behind the scenes saying this is coming out of the dressing room, there’s division, all of this we know has happened time and time again.

“And the thing is, once you’re inside the training ground, Old Trafford, you stay close, you never tell anybody anything. So these stories, they’re literally just taken out of thin air.

“And it was important – really, really important – that the team came out yesterday, in the most difficult of circumstances, and showed the world that they are United, and they play as a team.”

Despite the win, Schmeichel still feels his ex-club has a lot more ‘to prove’ in terms of their performances.

“It was a great win, let me [be] absolutely clear about that it was a great win, but I still think there is a long, long, long way to go for this team,” he expressed.

“They’ve still got, in terms of football, so many more things to prove.”