Arsene Wenger gives verdict on Man City vs Arsenal Premier League title race

Arsenal have a five-point lead as the Premier League pauses for the World Cup and Arsene Wenger believes they might have a key advantage over Manchester City for the title but admitted that he still thinks Pep Guardiola’s side are favourites to win the tittle this season.

City dropped five points behind the Gunners on Saturday when they fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Brentford. Ivan Toney was the matchwinner bagging his second goal of the afternoon in the eighth minute of stoppage time at the end of the match.

Arsenal then increased the gap at the top of the division with a 2-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite the Gunners being five points clear at Christmas, Wenger is still confident that City will win the league.

Speaking to beIN Sports, the 73-year-old said: “Yeah, personally I would put them just behind City. [Arsenal are] the second-best team to have a good chance to win the Premier League because Man City at some stage will focus highly on the Champions League.”

“I think [Arsenal are City’s best challengers],” he added. “And after we don’t know about Liverpool but they are already 11 points behind and 10 points behind Man City is a mountain to climb.

“And Chelsea as well do not look consistent at the moment. They have not found the confidence to contend to win the league.”

Arsenal have not even finished in the top four since 2015/16 and have won the Premier League since the famous Invincibles, managed by Wenger, in the 2003/04 season. By contrast, City have won four of the past five titles, but may have their sights set on a different goal.

City will not play another competitive fixture now until after the World Cup finals in Qatar with the Premier League taking a break for a month. On their return to domestic action, the Blues will face the tough task of hosting Liverpool in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.