Unbeaten Manchester United can reclaim top spot in the Premier League when they host provisional leaders Arsenal on Monday in the division’s showcase match.

United are a point behind the Gunners but with a game in hand after its match at Blackpool was called off last weekend because of a frozen pitch.

Arsenal took advantage by beating Fulham 2-1 for a third straight win in the league and will be buoyed after sealing a place in the knockout stage of the Champions League on Wednesday.

United winger Nani, who tormented Arsenal’s defence when the teams met at Emirates Stadium last season, is expecting a match to savor at Old Trafford.

“It’s always a fantastic game. Everyone wants to play the big games and I think it will be a fantastic atmosphere,” the Portugal winger said. “Arsenal are doing well but we are doing well too. We just have to concentrate on our own performance.”

United is the only team yet to lose in the league this campaign and has only been defeated once all season - by West Ham in the quarterfinals of the League Cup. In their last league game, the 18-time champions thrashed Blackburn 7-1, with Dimitar Berbatov scoring five goals.

Arsenal are looking to claim their first title since 2004 and, led by free-scoring France midfielder Samir Nasri, is playing the best football in the division.

The Gunners are still involved in all four competitions - Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Partizan Belgrade put them through to the last 16 of the Champions League for the 11th straight year - and confidence is coarsing through the squad.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has an outside chance of recovering from a hamstring strain in time to play, but left back Kieran Gibbs was ruled out for three weeks on Thursday after hurting his ankle against Partizan.

The Premier League’s other standout match sees Tottenham and Chelsea, two other teams who have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, meet at White Hart Lane tomorrow.

Chelsea has picked up just two victories in its last eight games in all competitions and the pressure is on manager Carlo Ancelotti to turn around the fortunes of a team which was dismissing rivals with ease in the opening three months of the campaign.

Spurs, who finished above defending champions Inter in their Champions League group, is fifth in the table, six points off the pace. Its title challenge took a blow when it drew 1-1 at Birmingham.

Fourth-place Manchester City are at bottom club West Ham and Alan Pardew takes charge of his first game as Newcastle manager when the northeast side hosts Liverpool today.

Pardew was hired by Newcastle on a 5½-year deal on Thursday as a replacement for Chris Hughton, who was fired on Monday.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson said captain Steven Gerrard, who is currently out with a hamstring injury, would not be fit for the match but could return for the home game against Fulham on 18 December.

Elsewhere today, Aston Villa hosts West Brom in a Midlands derby, third-from-bottom Wigan travels to Everton, seventh-place Sunderland goes to Fulham and Stoke is at home to Blackpool.

Tomorrow, sixth-place Bolton hosts Blackburn and Birmingham is away at Wolverhampton Wanderers, which is second from bottom.