Arsene Wenger has claimed Arsenal are the second best team in the Premier League this season, behind Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
The Gunners are flying high at the top of the table under the leadership of one of Wenger's former players in Mikel Arteta, having won seven of their opening eight games this season. The most recent of which came in the form of an emphatic 3-1 win over Tottenham at the Emirates in what was a fiercely contested derby day victory for Arsenal.
Goals from Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus either side of a Harry Kane penalty were enough to give the Gunners dominance, before Granit Xhaka's strike wrapped up the three points for Arteta's men and maintain their status as league-leaders for at least another week.
The win clearly made an impression on Wenger, who told BeIN Sports: "Personally I would put Arsenal just behind Manchester City. Arsenal are the second best team to have a good chance at winning the Premiership."
Wenger's comments come just days after he claimed the Gunners could be able to take advantage of the fact there is currently no "super dominating team" in the English top-flight this term.
While some would suggest City are looking just as lethal as ever, especially with Erling Haaland leading the line, Pep Guardiola's side currently sit one point behind Arsenal having drawn two of their opening eight games against Newcastle and Aston Villa respectively.
Speaking shortly after Arsenal's recent 3-0 win away at Brentford, Wenger waxed lyrical about his beloved Gunners as he told Sky Sports : "I would say they have a good chance this season because I don't see any super dominating team, I believe that it is a good opportunity to do it this season.
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"Of course, it's a little bit of a special season as well because you have the World Cup in the middle and you don't know how much that will affect the performances of the individual players and of the teams. Overall, I believe there is a good opportunity there this season."
For all of Wenger's reasoning, dominant is certainly the word most would use to describe City's 6-3 victory over Manchester United at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
Two hat-tricks from Haaland and Phil Foden were enough to hand City all three points against their most-hated opponents, despite the fact a late brace from Anthony Martial ensured the scoreline looked significantly more respectable from a United perspective.
The result means City sit a point behind Arsenal, with the two of them quickly emerging as the pace setters for the rest of the pack in what could be another enthralling title race this term.
