Louis van Gaal: 'Manchester City, Arsenal a level above Manchester United'

Louis van Gaal has admitted that Manchester United have a way to go before they can call themselves Premier League title challengers after Saturday's 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace.

Goal-shy United failed to score for the third successive game in all competitions as Van Gaal's troops fell four points behind co-leaders Manchester City and Arsenal, who both won yesterday.

With the Gunners winning 3-0 at Swansea City - who beat the Red Devils 2-1 in August - the Dutchman feels that Arsenal's win exemplifies the difference between them and his side.

"I am not happy because if you want to be the champions, you have to win these kinds of matches.," he is quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News.

"Arsenal beat Swansea, for example. We lost against Swansea, even though we were the better team, but they have beaten them 3-0."

United, who lost 3-0 at Arsenal early last month, host West Bromwich Albion next Saturday.