CAST your mind back almost seven years. The scene is Elland Road and Newcastle have just beaten Leeds 1-0 to maintain their challenge for the Premiership title.

Kevin Keegan, the Magpies' Messianic manager, is being interviewed by Sky Sports when mention of Manchester United rival Alex Ferguson provokes an unprecedented outburst.

White with rage and wild-eyed, Keegan rails at Ferguson's suggestion that Leeds wouldn't try as hard against Newcastle as they had done when losing by the same scoreline at Old Trafford 12 days earlier.

Keegan is also rattled by Ferguson casting aspersions on Newcastle for agreeing to take a team to the City Ground for Stuart Pearce's testimonial when both the Magpies and Man. United have to play Nottingham Forest in the last eight days of the season.

Even for the emotional Keegan, one who has always worn his heart on his sleeve, the reaction is extreme.

Such is his anger, that he almost loses his voice as he delivers the now immortal line: "I would love it if we beat Manchester United to the title.''

Having watched his side fritter away a 12-point championship race lead, Keegan has cracked, taken the bait, and Ferguson - sat at home watching intently - growls "Gotcha''!

In the week that Keegan's tirade was officially recognised as containing the Premiership Quote of the Decade, there was compelling evidence that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger - of all people - may be falling into another of the canny Ferguson's psychological traps.

Sir Alex, as he is now, branded Arsenal "arrogant'' while they were Premiership leaders.

And with Man. United having regained top spot from the Gunners by crushing Newcastle 6-2 on Tyneside ahead of Wednesday's 2-2 title face-off at Highbury, he must sense that he is again winning the mind games.

Unlike Keegan, the stoical Wenger is not one to publicly bristle at Ferguson's carefully-crafted barbs.

In fact, on that score, the Frenchman can often give as good as he gets.

But Wenger's almost demented demeanour on the Highbury touchline this week, which was there for all to see long before Sol Campbell's sending-off for elbowing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, showed that the pressure is beginning to take its toll.

By contrast, Ferguson's countenance bore a look of near-smug satisfaction as he raced on to the pitch to shake the hand of referee Mark Halsey and salute the travelling fans with raised arms and clenched fists.

It was as if he was already claiming victory in the title race.

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, Ferguson's managerial protg, can assist him in that goal by masterminding a famous win over the Gunners at the Riverside this afternoon.

Fergie, it seems, has his quarry where he wants it. The question is whether he can move in for the kill.