Andrey Arshavin believes Arsenal's less hectic schedule will help them overhaul Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title.
Arsene Wenger's men play host to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday evening, by which time they will know how United have fared with the Red Devils travelling to West Ham for the lunchtime fixture.
The North London club will play host to United on May 1, with another blockbuster encounter between Ferguson's men and Chelsea the following weekend.
The Premier League crown is now Arsenal's only remaining hope of ending their six-year wait for silverware after a miserable spell saw them suffer Carling Cup, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup woe.
Ferguson's side, meanwhile, have much more on their plate and must tackle Chelsea in the last eight of Europe's elite competition and come up against Manchester City in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
And while playmaker Arshavin would prefer to be competing on more fronts as the season draws to a close, he feels Wenger's squad will have recovered from the misery of exiting three competitions in less than two weeks.
The Russia international told Sky Sports News: "I think our schedule is not so bad, that is why if we win all our games we have a good chance to be champions.
"I think everyone in our team would prefer to have more possibilities than only one trophy, but everything is in the past, that is why we have to concentrate on the Premier League matches.
"Straight after it was very difficult for everyone, but now we have come back after the internationals and have refreshed our minds and maybe it will help us.
"I think we are in the race."
And he joked: "I met with Avram Grant yesterday, we had a chat and I have asked him to steal some points from Manchester United this weekend!"
