Arsenal News: Mikel Arteta admits his side are Premier League title contenders after victory at Chelsea

In Arsenal News, Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal are competing for the title after their win at Chelsea - but did call for respect towards Manchester City's recent record in English football.

Since the start of the season, Arteta has been coy about the Gunners' chances to win the title despite 10 consecutive rounds of Premier League fixtures at the summit - but Sunday's 1-0 win at Chelsea courtesy of Gabriel's second-half goal appears to have changed his stance.

Speaking in his press conference after Arsenal re-established their two-point lead over City at the top of the table, Arteta said: "We are today, but tomorrow is difficult.

"Just look at the last six years what Manchester City have done. With the best manager and best team in the world, they've shown it consistently in every single competition.

"We have to be very, very respectful of that and we're getting much better as a team and competing much better and getting really good results but this is a long, long show."

Arteta - who took charge of his 150th game at Stamford Bridge on Sunday - was particularly pleased about the maturity his side showed in west London. The Gunners were relatively untroubled at the back and could have scored more against Chelsea had Gabriel Jesus had his shooting boots on, with missed chances in either half.

Asked to compare this performance with the 3-1 defeat at Manchester United in September, Arteta said: "We like discipline, the discipline that is necessary in certain moments. To know what you have to do, because if not you get punished.

"I think we learned our lesson really well because we played really well there but it was not enough to win and that's what top teams do.

"What is fantastic to see the team taking another step. Today we were under pressure, we lost our spot and we prepared the game to come here and win but coming to win here is a different story. I'm happy we've done that."

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