For the second year running, Arsenal and Manchester City lock horns in a Premier League title race and Mikel Arteta believes the Gunners will win this time. Currently, the North London club sit atop the standing of the English top division having played one game more than defending champions, Man City. Ahead of the crucial clash against Manchester United, Arteta revealed that his squad is focused and are not thinking about dropping the title.

Speaking to the media, Arteta said [via Arsenal club media]: "Emotions on potentially not winning the league? My brain always takes me to the players lifting the Premier League, that's what my brain is doing at the moment. I just follow my brain and my gut and this is how I feel, and this is the way that I want everybody to think and hopefully we can achieve it.

"Going head-on against Man City two years in a row? We are on the journey to try to catch them and be better than them, which is the aim and what we have to do. It’s an inspiration to have this level of opposition and it makes you better if someone challenges you to go further and further.

"Where can Man City drop points? That’s something that’s not in our hands. I’m telling you how I’m feeling, the thoughts that come into my head and what is driving my energy and my purpose right now is that. That ambition and that objective that is so good."

Arsenal face an uphill battle against Man City and Pep Guardiola, who are targeting their fourth straight Premier League title win. As it stands, Arsenal hold a slender one-point lead over Man City in the race but have played one game more than the defending champions. Arsenal's best bet for City dropping points before the end of the season could be their bitter North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, who host the Citizens next week.