“They are Mike Tyson, so you don’t handicap the other teams…"

“In the last two seasons it was very close between Arsenal and Manchester United. This season has been a much different one because firstly we have not been consistent and secondly there was the problem of the fixtures.”

United, who won the treble of league, FA Cup and European Cup last year, did not play in the FA Cup this season because they took part in the World Club Championship in Brazil.

Wenger believes the competition in Brazil in January was effectively a winter break for United.

“They had a winter break. They didn’t play in the FA Cup. It was all wrong from the start,” Wenger said.

“The break was good for them because at the same time we dropped points and so did the other teams. So when they came back they had the psychological advantage. They don’t need that in fairness.”

The Frenchman added: “What was even more of an advantage, they could reorganise their games on the days of the FA Cup. If I’m to fight Mike Tyson and you give him some advantage, I’d say, `what’s happening here?

“They are Mike Tyson, so you don’t handicap the other teams to fight against them … Of course this was a major factor in the championship.”

With the championship decided, London’s most successful club are now involved in a tight battle for the second Champions League place. Second-placed Liverpool are six points ahead but have played two more games.

Fourth-placed Leeds United, are level on points with the London club but have played one game more.

Although United have effectively run away with the title this season, Wenger believes that Arsenal, who won the League and Cup double in 1998, are still a major force who are not ready to play second fiddle to their rich rivals yet.

“I don’t think we are second best to United at the moment,” he said. “And I don’t think we will always be second best to them.

“In the last two seasons it was very close between them and us. One year we were on top and the next year they were on top.” At the moment, though, you have to accept that when we can spend 10 million pounds ($ 15.81 million) on a goalscorer, they can spend 19 million pounds ($ 30.03 million).”

United signed PSV Eindhoven forward Ruud van Nistelrooy on Friday for a reported transfer fee of 18.5 million pounds ($ 29.24 million), a British record.