Ferguson admits Gunners let off the hook

Sir Alex Ferguson has warned his Manchester United side that they still have it all to do in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal next week.

The holders will carry the narrowest of advantages into the fixture, after John O'Shea's strike - only his second goal in 60 Champions League appearances - gave them a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in Wednesday night's first leg.

United might easily have won by a more comfortable margin and, although their manager was happy with his side's performance, he was quick to dismiss any notion that a place in next month's final in Rome is assured.

Ferguson is expecting a sterner test from Arsene Wenger's side at the Emirates Stadium but feels that scoring in London will be key to booking a trip to the Italian capital.

"We have given ourselves a good chance overall," the Scot declared. "The more pleasing aspect is that before the game we said try and win 1-0 and not lose a goal and we have done that.

"The performance level was very good, we have players who can score goals and we will be a goal threat at their ground but the tie is not over. "Arsene (Wenger the Arsenal manager) will be thinking it's been a good day for him, he could be out of the tie but he is not and I suppose another way of looking at it is that we always do things the hard way.

"This is another night when we have got our fans frustrated where we maybe should be into the final but we are not but we have done that many times. MANCHESTER, Thursday, AFP