Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has reaffirmed his stance that the Premier League title race this season is not merely a two-horse affair between his team and Manchester City, pointing to the tight standings that include several other strong contenders.
Arteta spoke at his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s fixture with Wolves on Saturday night.
The Gunners currently lead the Premier League table, sitting just two points ahead of second-place Man City (33 points to 31 points) and three points ahead of third-place Aston Villa (30 points), illustrating the narrow margins at the top. The top five is rounded out by Crystal Palace in fourth (26 points) and Chelsea in fifth place (25 points).
When questioned on whether the title race this term is primarily a duel between Arsenal and the Cityzens, Arteta emphasized the depth of competition:
“There are a lot of teams involved when you look at the table.
“We know the situation with other clubs as well.
“With Manchester City, it’s always the case that you expect them to have the quality that they have, the experience that they have in the competition. The focus has to be on what we have to do.” (via Metro UK)
The manager’s statement serves to acknowledge the relentless challenge posed by Pep Guardiola’s side while simultaneously ensuring his team remains focused on their own performance and doesn’t overlook the threat posed by the chasing pack, including the high-flying Aston Villa and the improved Crystal Palace and Chelsea teams.
Premier League Top 5 Standings (Ahead of Matchday 16):
| Position | Team | Games Played | Points |
| 1 | Arsenal | 15 | 33 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 15 | 31 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 15 | 30 |
| 4 | Crystal Palace | 15 | 26 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 15 | 25 |
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