Bill Shankly once famously said the season is a marathon and not a sprint.

But as we enter the last third of the fixtures, while not being able to see the tape yet, there's no doubt that one or two are certainly looking over their shoulders in the separate races within the big one.

The highlight of the past week was at the top end - the big showdown at Highbury.

Manchester United v Arsenal is always a great fixture but with spice added this time because of the so-called battle raging between Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson.

The fact that Arsenal last year were invincible and are now battling for second place proves the real attraction of our top-flight football is that no one can ever take anything for granted.

All right, Chelsea have upset the apple cart this season. I have previously said that Mr Mourinho has won over a lot of the people who criticised his arrogant attitude when he arrived.

Undoubtedly his team are playing wonderful, attractive football and the old adage of build from the back has been proved to be true yet again.

But before we give all the credit due for how many things they win at the end of the season, let's not forget the other fact that emerged in the last few days - that the club has made a record loss of nearly £90m and has spent nearly £200m on players.

Of course, it takes a good manager to organise a dressing room full of stars and create the obvious team spirit they have.

But it is a unique situation in the whole world of football to have such a sugar daddy as Mr Abramovic.

So should Arsene Wenger be too concerned because it would appear that Arsenal's building of a magnificent new stadium has affected his buying powers?

But as another old manager once said, concrete never won points and I'm sure that there have been many discussions during the transfer window about whether the Arsenal team could be improved.

Arsene is looking very tense and uptight and in need of a good holiday.

So full marks to Fergie. After 17 years at Old Trafford being written off many times, having a public battle with the major shareholders and wondering whether a funny-looking American who could well be John McCririck's long-lost twin would arrive from Florida to take over the whole club, he still maintains that fierce passion and will to win which he passes on to everyone around him.

We don't hear, for instance, of any players complaining they were played out of position, but it is not just pride at stake.

The money is so important bearing in mind the top two teams automatically qualify for the Champions League whilst third and fourth have to go into the preliminary rounds. The foot will certainly be kept hard down on the pedal.

Recently photographs were published in one national newspaper of Arsene six or seven years ago compared to the gaunt look he portrays at present.

Mr Mourinho is currently the most youthful of the lot. I wonder if he will survive 17 years, and whether he would still look as well at the end of it all as Fergie does now ...