Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has predicted that the Premier League title race this season will be close run.
With 13 games of the season gone just four points currently separate the top five, as the Gunners sit in fourth place and two points behind leaders Leicester City.
Wenger has said that defending champions Chelsea, who are in the bottom half after losing seven times so far, cannot be discounted yet.
"Mathematically you cannot rule them out - even the bottom teams are in it," he told Arsenal's official website. "It is so difficult. It is so tight and I don't even look at the league anymore because it is very, very tight.
"Last week we had a bad result against West Brom and so did Manchester City [against Liverpool] so it compacted the whole table. I believe it is a big opportunity for us but many teams can tell you that. We are in a position where you want to be after 13 games but there are 25 to go.
"If there's five or six to go and we are in the race, of course [we are contenders]. I think we have a chance but it is very early. I know people always want to know what will happen in the future but let's take care of the game on Sunday."
Arsenal travel to Norwich City this weekend.
Steven Toplis
