Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney says the Premier League has never been so competitive.

Rooney takes United to Arsenal on Sunday as genuine title challengers.

"Six or seven years ago, there were games you knew you would win but now every team has progressed," said Rooney. "You see teams at the bottom of the league buying players for a lot of money. It makes it a better league, more competitive. Physically you are pushing right to the end of games.

"In the past, you could be leading 3-0 or 4-0 after an hour and take your foot off the gas to concentrate on the next game. But now you must keep on until the end.

"We want to be top, obviously, but this is a tough league. There are no easy games."