Arsene Wenger has warned Arsenal that this season is their best chance to win the Premier League, with Liverpool and Manchester City set to return to form next term.
The Gunners are two points clear of City at the top of the table and also have a game in hand over Pep Guardiola's men. The last time they won the top-flight was 19 years ago, back when Wenger was still manager.
Now, Mikel Arteta looks to be on course to be come the first Arsenal manager since the legendary Frenchman to lead the London side to the title. The dramatic win over Aston Villa has got them back on course and Wenger is backing them to end their long drought.
"It was a good feeling to see what it is now and the crowd happy, the team is doing well. I like what I saw and I liked what I felt in the dressing room, the team spirit is great, the humility, the hunger of the young players is amazing," he told beIN Sports.
"They've hungry. They are good enough, there's always a period when you have not won, where you have to deal with it. It's now an opportunity where you can miss. The usual threats in the Premier League are all out of the race.
"The only threat is City and even City is not as dominant as they were last year, two years before. Since the start of the season, City are more vulnerable defensively than they were the years before."
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While City and Liverpool are nowhere near the standards they have been at in years gone by, Wenger believes the duo will bounce back. And he warned Arsenal that this will be their best chance to lift the title, an opportunity they cannot afford to throw away.
"I feel that you win it when you can and you don't care about all the rest of it, you let other people talk and you take the title. Personally, where I agree with you is the conditions next year," he added.
"They will not be as favourable as they are now, so let's not miss this opportunity. Arsenal have 51 points, which is remarkable after 22 games. Liverpool not so long ago were running for four trophies."
"It's spectacular. I believe there are many answers in there, it's never one answer. The staff and Jurgen Klopp have to find the answer, you have to find the key to make that start again."
Arsenal have the chance to cement their lead over City with successive games against teams struggling in the Premier League. The first of those is a trip to Leicester, before a home clash against Everton, who defeated them a fortnight ago.
City meanwhile travel to relegation-threatened Bournemouth on Saturday before hosting top-four chasing Newcastle a week later.
