Wayne Rooney remains hopeful Manchester United can end their four-year title drought this season despite Sunday's defeat by Arsenal.

Rooney was among a number of United players to produce below-par performances and the 20-year-old accepts his side let themselves down. However, with United still second in the table, above Chelsea and other chief rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, Rooney remains optimistic a lifetime's dream can be fulfilled next May.

"As a young boy it was a dream of mine to win the league and that is my main aim," he said. "Losing against Arsenal was a big blow. We have made a good start to the season and we wanted it to continue. But, I suppose if you look at the league table, we have made a decent start and we are still in front of the other title contenders."