Tevez equalised with an impudent back-heel after Hugo Rodallega had given the Latics a first-half lead before Michael Carrick scored an 87th-minute winner to leave United only a point away from retaining its Premier League title.

Tevez's future has been in the spotlight over the past few days, with the former West Ham player quoted in a Sunday newspaper saying he does not expect to stay at the champions.

However, following the victory at the JJB Stadium, Ferguson told Sky Sports 1: "He is a fantastic player.

"He knows I want him to stay. I had a chat with him today and [chief executive] David Gill has had meetings with him. I'm sorry I have to keep on going on about this, it has never changed.

"[The fact] we're not negotiating with a football club is the problem - we'll see."

United will again be crowned champion if it avoids defeat against the Gunners at Old Trafford on Saturday and Ferguson insists he will prepare as if it was just another game.

"We'll approach the game the way we always approach a game," Ferguson said. "It is against a very good Arsenal side - I don't take any notice of what is written, they are a very good side."

United did not have it all its way against Wigan which pushed it right to the end and Ferguson acknowledged its opponent.

"We were up against a very determined Wigan side," he continued. "We were fantastic in the second half. We kept going, got a little break and we were the better team. A really gutsy performance."

Goalscorer Carrick admitted United were made to battle for the three points.

"It [my goal] was worth the wait," he said. "To score goals as important as that is a great feeling - I had to make up for the miss in the first half, it's a great feeling.

"Wigan came at us and caused a few problems. It's not the first time we have come from behind - we did it the hard way."

A spokesman for Tevez's advisor, Kia Joorabchian, denied Manchester United had made an offer aimed at keeping the Argentinian at Old Trafford.

In a statement released to PA Sport, the spokesman said: "It is true David Gill came to see Mr Joorabchian and they had a cordial meeting.

"It is categorically untrue that Manchester United made an offer to try to persuade Carlos Tevez to stay at the club.

"In 2007 Manchester United agreed a two-year loan deal for Carlos Tevez and at the same time agreed the terms that would make the transfer permanent.

"They have not taken up that option."