Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, asserted with conviction for the first time that his side are ready to challenge for the Barclays Premier League title after watching them come from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield yesterday.

Cesc Fàbregas’s tenth goal of a remarkable season in the 80th minute cancelled out Steven Gerrard’s first-half free kick to take the visiting team back to the top of the table, ahead of Manchester United on goals scored.

Arsenal entertain United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime and Sir Alex Ferguson - a spectator at Anfield yesterday – knows that his free-scoring team will have a battle on their hands. Arsenal beat United in both their meetings last season and will start the match with renewed confidence, despite missing out on an opportunity to extend their winning run to 13 successive matches.

“I feel we came out of this first big test stronger,” Wenger said. “I was always very confident, but I hope we convinced a few more people today. There’s a long way to go, but in my opinion we have the talent to fight up there for the championship. I would give credit to the attitude and the quality of the team.

“I felt we showed fantastic quality today and our mental strength and togetherness allowed us to come back.

Certainly, the players are growing. They’re very young, the confidence is much bigger and the belief is stronger. Last year, we swum a bit against the stream – a new stadium, seven points behind after three games and things weren’t as positive – but you could see signs of quality because, in the big games, the side did well.”

Liverpool’s problems, by contrast, continue to grow as Fernando Torres (abductor) and Xabi Alonso (foot) limped off with recurrent injuries. The outstanding Javier Mascherano also suffered a kick on the foot and will be assessed today.

Juande Ramos watched Tottenham Hotspur lose 2-1 to Blackburn Rovers at White Hart Lane yesterday. Fresh from arriving from Seville, the new Tottenham head coach will have plenty to do when he begins work on the training pitch today.

“I met Juande after the game. He told the players, ‘We start tomorrow morning. We start tomorrow,’ ” Clive Allen, who took temporary charge of the team, said.