Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes the Premier League title race currently consists of just three teams.
Man City boss fearing Man Utd and Spurs in the race to the title
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes the Premier League title race currently consists of just three teams.
Mancini's side top the table with 38 points, with rivals Manchester United just two points behind, ahead of Tottenham who are seven points inferior but with a game in hand.
It could be a pivotal weekend in the Premier League, with the top five potentially separated by just seven points should every side win apart from City who face Arsenal.
And, with a number of games coming up for each club between now and the New Year, the title race could be turned on its head.
After their clash with Arsenal, City play Stoke City at home, before travelling to West Brom on Boxing Day and Sunderland on New Year's Day.
But Mancini feels his side currently have just two rivals for the Premier League title: "At the moment, us, United and maybe Tottenham are the three teams that can fight for the title.
"But the season is long. Chelsea, Arsenal and, maybe, Liverpool could also try. The season is hard. We have a lot of games to play in the next 40 days."
Inevitable
Meanwhile, Mancini admits there was a sense of inevitability about his side's run coming to an end.
The Citizens lost their unbeaten record in a 2-1 defeat by Chelsea on Monday night, despite taking the lead through Mario Balotelli.
Gael Clichy was sent off for City in the game at Stamford Bridge and will sit out Sunday's meeting with his former club Arsenal due to suspension.
City may lose their grip of top spot if results go against them at the weekend, but Mancini is staying calm despite tasting a league defeat for the first time this season.
He said: "Sooner or later, this had to happen, what happened against Chelsea.
"With 10 players it was difficult and if we didn't only have 10, we wouldn't have lost. But that is it, this is football."
Robin van Persie
The Etihad Stadium will be the stage for two of the Premier League's top scorers on Sunday, with Robin van Persie and Sergio Aguero both set to feature.
Van Persie tops the list with 15 goals, four more than Aguero, and he has failed to hit the target just twice in his last nine games.
Mancini added: "Van Persie is an incredible player. He is like (Sergio) Aguero, (Edin) Dzeko, Mario (Balotelli) - scoring a goal every game.
"At this moment he is very good, like Arsenal. At this moment they are playing very well."
