Ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright believes his former side and their North London rivals Tottenham could be involved in the title race until the very end this season. It comes after both clubs have had an ideal start to the campaign, putting them firmly in the conversation for a seemingly unlikely championship winning year.
It's the Gunners that currently lead the way for the rest of the division, sitting four points clear of champions Manchester City in second. Nine wins from 10 matches has seen Mikel Arteta's team receive plenty of plaudits for the results as well as performances, but the Spaniard has been coy on any title talk.
As for Spurs, their only defeat came against their rivals earlier this season, also sitting four points behind Mikel Arteta's side with an identical record to City but an inferior goal difference. While Arsenal are in Europa League action in midweek, Antonio Conte's men can move within one point with an extra match played as they travel to face Manchester United.
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With the two near-neighbours looking to pip each other as well as Manchester City to the title - who recently suffered their first defeat of the campaign to Liverpool - it could be a long and tough campaign, with plenty of twists and turns yet to come. That's very much the point of view for Wright, who believes that the champions can be toppled and both London sides can win the league.
He told Premier League productions: "That’s what Arsenal will be counting on [Man City buckling under a hostile atmosphere]. You want to be in and around it because it’s a bonus to beat Manchester City. People start to take you seriously if you beat them.
“If Man City come to the Emirates, then it will be even more ramped up. Remember the players will be going into the game saying ‘Man City are the favourites’, no matter if we are top or not, wherever they are. They will just be up to playing that game. All they want to do is impress themselves on Man City. Letting them know we are going to give you a proper game because, with the other games, we’ll nick it. We will nick a 1-0 away to Leeds.
“If we could get anything from Manchester City, then you start to believe. We might be able to do something..."
Wright then added Spurs into the discussion, adding: "We don’t know what will happen after the World Cup and how everything will pan out, during these crazy times. If they come back and are in touch. I just feel something will happen this season that’s not in the ordinary.
“He [Conte] might have a player in mind to come in. Them and with their fitness. Just staying amongst it. It feels like they are creeping up. Nobody is speaking about them too much. Everybody is talking about they aren’t this or that. You have an elite manager that have elite players.
“If that happens, where he adds a couple of players until after the World Cup and they are still in touch, then you have to start looking at Spurs because they aren’t playing unbelievable right now, but they are in touch.”
Both clubs will certainly be hoping that they will be involved in the title picture until the very end, but with a long break for the World Cup approaching, anything could happen.
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