ALEX FERGUSON sealed his 11th Premier League title as Manchester United boss — but old foe Arsene Wenger pushed him all the way.

The Arsenal boss sent his men on a mission to wreck the Old Trafford party, with a late assault forcing the legendary Scotsman to sweat to the very end.

But United held on for a 0-0 draw, earning the point needed to see them crowned champions for the 18th time in their illustrious history.

By scooping the silverware with one game to spare, Fergie earned his squad some breathing space ahead of their Champions League final against Barcelona on May 27.

And the importance of completing domestic duty was not lost on him, calling the stalemate “the longest 90 minutes in history” after the final whistle.

Going into the game, Fergie opted for Carlos Tevez up top — with the striker's future at the club yet to be resolved.

Dimitar Berbatov was dropped, with Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs replacing Anderson and Paul Scholes from the side that beat Wigan.

The Gunners were without injured duo Manuel Almunia and Emmanuel Adebayor, with Andrey Arshavin returning after a bout of flu.

And it was Fletcher who opened up the Arsenal defence in the first minute, playing in Cristiano Ronaldo who failed to produce a goal-scoring chance.

Tevez was hassling the defenders in front of him, prompting early chants from the Old Trafford faithful to sign the Argentine permanently.

SALUTE ... Carlos Tevez

But the best early chance fell to Robin van Persie, who fluffed his free header after Arshavin had picked him out with a fine far-post cross.

Van Persie then thought he should have had a penalty when he went down under Nemanja Vidic’s challenge but referee Mike Dean disagreed.

The Dutchman was also booked for a late tackle before coming close, prodding the ball at Vidic when he could have tested Edwin van der Sar.

Arshavin was booked for a late tackle on Michael Carrick, before a handball decision against Samir Nasri saw Ronaldo fire a free kick wide on the stroke of half-time.

Things got spicy at the start of the second period, with Patrice Evra taking exception to a tackle from Cesc Fabregas that left him hobbling.

Moments later, ref Dean had to step in and cool tempers after a collision between Evra and Van Persie before Nasri was booked for a foul on the Frenchman.

Fletcher put in Tevez for a great chance shortly after, with Lukasz Fabianski blocking him out.

The ball fell to Ronaldo, but his follow-up ended up in row Z of the Stretford End.

On 67 minutes, Tevez was replaced by Park Ji Sung, with the Argentine waving to all four corners of the ground in an apparent farewell.

Wenger introduced Nicolas Bendtner and Theo Walcott for Nasri and Arshavin, but could have seen his side go behind when Ronaldo was harshly flagged offside as he strode onto Park’s through ball.

But Arsenal launched a late assault on the United goal, with Fabregas on the edge of the area smashing the post with his angled drive.

Van Persie then had a shot saved by fellow Dutchman van der Sar as United retreated further into their shell, eventually emerging, arms aloft in triumph, at the final whistle.

Wenger warned United that the Gunners will bounce back stronger next season.

He said: “Deep down I wish it was us not Manchester United.

“But that is sport. They were the better team this year, so congratulations to them.

“We have to make sure that it is on our side next year.

“Things can change quickly but what we have seen today shows we have the quality to be up there.

"We have to keep believing in these players and work hard.

“They have learned a lot this year.”

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney (Anderson 90), Tevez (Park 67). Subs not used: Kuszczak, Neville, Berbatov, Scholes, Rafael Da Silva.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Toure, Song, Gibbs (Eboue 76), Nasri (Bendtner 69), Denilson, Diaby, Fabregas, Arshavin (Walcott 69), van Persie. Subs not used: Mannone, Vela, Ramsey, Silvestre. Booked: van Persie, Arshavin, Fabregas, Nasri, Song Billong.

Att: 75,468

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

@ thesun.co.uk
 

The rumours will not go away, despite denials, that Ronaldo is bound for Real Madrid with Kaka arriving from AC Milan.

But Ronaldo is the World Player of the Year for a reason. He is the best and no amount of money or any other player could compensate if he left Old Trafford.

The Portuguese star’s sensational double ensured United made it to Rome with the chance to become the first team to retain the Champions League crown. In Porto he scored with a stunning 40-yard drive to get his team through their quarter-final.

Here, from a free-kick a yard further out, Ronaldo found the target once again.

His second goal, United’s third, was very different but equally brilliant. He started and finished the move, racing 70 yards to crash a shot into the roof of the net.

The only downside to United’s triumph was the 75th-minute dismissal of Darren Fletcher, who brought down Cesc Fabregas in the area and was shown a straight red card. That means he is out of the final.

The Scot did just get the ball. But it was still a rash challenge from behind and, like Paul Scholes and Roy Keane who missed United’s 1999 success, he will have to watch from the stands.

Arsenal rode their luck in the first leg to escape with a 1-0 deficit. But they had no such fortune this time round, as their suspect defence caved in.

Young Kieran Gibbs, so impressive since coming into the team in place of the injured Gael Clichy, caught the defensive jitters which allowed United to take a stranglehold on this semi-final, second leg.

Poor Gibbs was about to clear a low cross from Ronaldo on eight minutes when he slipped on the turf always specially watered to aid the Gunners’ slick passing.

Park Ji Sung could not believe his luck, as the ball arrived at his feet with Gibbs sprawling in front of him. The Korean took a touch then slid a close-range shot over the helpless Manuel Almunia.

It was a massive boost for United, who were cursing after the home leg with only John O’Shea’s effort to show for their superiority.

Alex Ferguson was always confident his team would score in North London, though he could not have imagined it would come quite so easily.

Wenger had predicted ‘a magnificent performance’ from his youngsters. He proclaimed boldly: “If they score one, we will score three.”

He did not specify what they would do if United scored two. And by the 11th minute their task had become impossible, as Ronaldo bagged a cracking second after being brought down by Robin van Persie.

The moment Ronaldo lined up the free-kick, even though he was so far out, you could sense the anxiety round the ground.

As he unleashed his right-foot strike, the ball rose then dipped before beating Almunia diving to his left.

Almunia was the hero of the first leg, making three amazing saves to keep the score down, and there was much debate about him becoming England’s keeper when he qualifies through residency this summer.

But he should have got across to save Ronaldo’s kick and it begged the question whether he is any better than the other more English keepers Fabio Capello has available.

Wayne Rooney’s 25-yard curler was finger-tipped round a post by Almunia as United kept coming.

There was not much the managers could say to their players at half-time. Wenger would have been asking for a miracle, Fergie simply that his men did not blow it. Almunia saved another Ronaldo shot but, on the hour, United were well and truly home and dry — and what a goal it was.

It came from an Arsenal corner, which Nemanja Vidic headed clear. Ronaldo fed Park, who in turn picked out Rooney on the left.

Ronaldo kept his run going and was in the box to take Rooney’s return pass and leave Almunia grasping thin air.

Van Persie’s late penalty, converted after Fletcher’s foul on Fabregas, was no consolation.

So the Champions League has eluded Wenger again and the Arsenal trophy cabinet will be bare for another year.

Meanwhile, United should start ordering extra supplies of silver polish. The Quadruple is still on.

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