Arsenal will be top of the Premier League going into 2023. After 15 games played, the Gunners have won 13 and already reached the 40-point mark.
Newcastle are second with 33 points while Manchester City sit third with 32 points. Pep Guardiola's side could cut the gap to five points with a win over Leeds United on Wednesday evening.
Mikel Arteta and his team are firmly in a title race although the Spaniard isn't getting carried away just yet. "We cannot control what the opponents are going to do, how good they’ll become, what point they’re going to end or drop," he said after watching Arsenal beat West Ham 3-1 at Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day.
READ MORE: Declan Rice delivers honest Arsenal Premier League title prediction after win vs West Ham
"What we have to focus on our performance, what we do every day and what has brought us here which is not a coincidence. We just need to continue what we’re doing."
Man City boss Guardiola will be hoping his side can overcome Leeds at Elland Road on Wednesday evening and the former Barcelona man has admitted it is going to be "difficult" to catch the Gunners if City fail to win.
“After our defeat against Brentford and with how strong Arsenal are, as well as the opponents who come from behind, we have to be alert and careful,” said Guardiola. “If the distance is bigger, it will be so difficult to catch them.
“We have Leeds and then it's non-stop. Our schedule in January is terrible in terms of the amount of games and the quality of the opponents. So, we have to restart. This is what we did against Liverpool [in the EFL Cup] and hopefully we can continue."
Guardiola's comments come after West Ham captain Declan Rice made a Premier League title claim of his own following the Hammers' defeat at Emirates Stadium. The midfielder said: "100% (Arsenal are title contenders).
"I think they’re a top team, you can see they're coached incredibly well, the attacking talent, it’s a young squad, they could go the whole way for sure. They’re a good team.
"We tried to stop them first half but it’s really hard. In the end, we come up short and it’s frustrating."
READ NEXT:
Shakhtar Donetsk set new Mykhaylo Mudryk transfer fee as Arsenal prepare second January bid
Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Jesus, Smith Rowe - Arsenal injury news and return dates before Brighton
Shakhtar Donetsk respond to Arsenal's initial £55m Mykhaylo Mudryk bid amid January transfer hope
Stan and Josh Kroenke spotted at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal make bid for Mykhaylo Mudryk
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: The latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
