Wenger: City are the ones to catch

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that Manchester City are the team to beat after showing their quality and efficiency this season.

The expensively-assembled squad are unbeaten in the Premier League and are five points ahead of second-placed Manchester United in the league table.

The runaway nature of their victories at Old Trafford and White Hart Lane against two of the toughest opponents they have faced so far, established the noveau-riche club as genuine title contenders.

Wenger believes that if City are able to consistently come away with such results in December, they will be the club to be reined in.

He said on the Mirror : "If they are still there with that difference in December, then you can say it will be difficult to catch them.

"No team has no vulnerability in our League or any other League. They have quality. They can score goals, they can be efficient. They are the ones to catch.

"They had some impressive away results, especially at Tottenham and Man United but we have to see. The potential is there but we will see on a longer period."

After a tough start to the season, Arsenal have bounced back and are in good form after handing Chelsea a 5-3 defeat at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago and clawing their way back to seventh in the league, level on points with Liverpool and three points behind Chelsea, who are fourth in the table.

However, Wenger believes that the Gunners are still some way off challenging for the title as yet, and states that a top four finish will be a realistic target for now.

He continued: "It is too early to say that (back in the title race). If we win a few more games, why not? But at the moment I do not think we are far enough to say that.

"We are only three points behind Chelsea but we need a strong period and Man City need a weaker period which they are not having at the moment.

"At the moment, we are not near enough to say we are playing for the championship but we want to come back. We are back already in a position where we can aspire to be in the top four. We were not three weeks ago.

"You have to be closer to speak about it. We are 12 points behind Man City and that is too much. So for us, let's be humble and progressive."

Arsenal will play Manchester City on December 18.