Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has warned their Premier League rivals they shouldn’t write off the champions’ hopes of retaining the trophy.

The Red Devils have struggled to find their form this season under new boss David Moyes and currently sit in eighth position, eight points behind table toppers Arsenal who they face on Sunday.

And the Dutchman believes victory over the Gunners could catapult them right back into the title race.

“Don’t write them off,” he told Drive Time. “This game against Arsenal is going to be very important. If it ends as a draw then eight points is a fair gap. But if they lose then 11 points is a big gap. It would be much more difficult to claw back.

“If Manchester United do come out with a win, which they’re capable of doing, then suddenly the gap is only five.

“I can always remember the manager [Sir Alex Ferguson] saying to us, ‘as soon as we get into January the most important thing is that we are not more than six points off the top’.”