( CNN ) -- Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes Sunday 's trip to Arsenal on Sunday is `` the most difficult '' away game of the season for the English Premier League leaders . Alex Ferguson 's United team lead third-placed Arsenal by nine points after Javier Hernandez 's late goal earned a 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday , while Arsene Wenger 's side slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers 24 hours later . Defeat at the Emirates Stadium would end Arsenal 's hopes of securing the EPL title and a first major honor since victory over United in the 2005 FA Cup final . Victory would put the Red Devils within touching distance of a record 19th English league title . Has time run out for Arsene Wenger ? `` Going to Arsenal is probably the most difficult game , and has been for many , many years , '' Neville , who announced his retirement in February aged 35 , told CNN . `` Along with Liverpool and Chelsea , those games you can never tell if you 're going to win . Anything can happen and , while we 've had some good results there in the last couple of years , we 've some bad experiences down there as well . '' Former team captain Neville won eight league championships during a 19-year career with United , and the 85-cap England international said a draw against Arsenal would represent a good result for Ferguson 's side . `` I think if we can get a point on Sunday , come out of there with something , it would be really important for us . '' Neville , who was part of the 1999 European Champions League-winning squad and also won the FA Cup on three occasions , claimed the midfield area could be where the match is won or lost . `` The key battle against Arsenal is midfield . We 've always gone into the games over the last five or six years making sure we dominate midfield . It 's Arsenal 's strongest area , '' he said . `` We always make sure we pack our midfield with strength , power and make sure we can get physical against them . If you let Arsenal play , they are the best football team in the country playing through midfield . `` If you win that battle , towards the end of the game you can start to show your strength . '' Hernandez , also known as `` Chicarito , '' has enjoyed a successful debut season in England after arriving in Manchester from Mexican side Guadalajara . The Mexico striker has hit 12 goals in 24 league matches , and Neville has been impressed with the form shown by the 22-year-old . `` I do n't think anyone had heard of him when we signed him at the end of last season . But then he played for Mexico at the World Cup and everyone started to think 'This kid does n't look bad . ' `` I think you 'll see that United are developing a new young team , with the likes of Rafael ( Da Silva ) , Fabio ( Da Silva ) , Darron Gibson , Jonathan Evans , Chicarito , Chris Smalling ... That 's what the manager does , he integrates young players . `` He lets them get the hunger for winning , see the work ethic , and I think Chicarito is an unbelievable example of how that 's happened . Someone who cost $ 11.5 million and looks like one of the best center-forwards in the league . ''
Gary Neville has described Ferguson trip to Arsenal as their toughest test . The former Neville defender is confident Javier Hernandez 's team can secure at least a draw . United has also hailed the form of United 's English striker Javier Hernandez .