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Manchester City are second in the Premier League table and best placed to challenge leaders Arsenal, who hold a six point advantage at the top
Manchester City's weekend win over Bournemouth moved the Blues into second place and ensured they remain as the team best placed to challenge leaders Arsenal.
The Gunners have been flawless in recent weeks to surge six points clear at the top of the Premier League table. And with City facing Liverpool this weekend and then travelling to Newcastle after the international break, Mikel Arteta's side will hope to keep the pedal to the floor.
But Arsenal have tricky fixtures of their own to come and their current form - which has seen them reel off five league wins in a row and go more than 400 minutes since conceding a goal - feels unsustainable over the hectic winter months.
And City have Erling Haaland. He scored twice against Bournemouth and continues to look in imperious form. His goals spark debate in the wider football world about whether Pep Guardiola's side relay on the Norwegian too much but no-one at the Etihad will care if Haaland outscores all of his team-mates combined if it brings City the title.
On the latest episode of the Talking City podcast, the feeling is that City are very much in this title race. Here's what the MEN's City writers had to say and you can watch the podcast here.
Alex James
At the moment Haaland's form still gives me a little bit of hope that City can keep on the coat tails of Arsenal and reel them in. Liverpool will probably come again and someone else might come from the pack but City are second, remember.
Arsenal are not conceding any goals but while City have got Haaland and Haaland in this form, there is a big chance.
Arsenal haven't won the Champions League before and that might come into it a bit, as might an injury or two despite their strength in depth.
It still feels like City are very much in this even though everyone is sort of saying Arsenal away and gone.
They play Sunderland at the weekend away, which they will be heavy favourites to win but Sunderland have had a terrific start to the season and have good home form.
Arsenal then have a North London derby and then Chelsea away with Bayern in the Champions League in there as well. Arsenal may well win all those games but they are tricky games. If City can beat Liverpool and take six points from their next two or even four, then it does set things up nicely.
Simon Bajkowski
Arsenal cannot sustain what they are doing, no way.
That is not to say they can't win the league or keep winning games but they can't be so perfect that they don't even concede a shot of target. That is such an unbelievable level of perfection that you cannot sustain over a 38 game Premier League season when you are in multiple compeitions.
That has to change, Arsenal will not win every game between now and the end of the season, they might still win enough games to win the league but City know that Arsenal cannot sustain what they are currently doing.
Whereas City can get better, the gap is six points at the minute and Arsenal will get worse from where they are right now and City will get better. That might not be reflected in points at the end of the season but there is definitely room for City to think 'we are definitely in this'.
Liverpool on Sunday is a big one, that would be the statement to say 'we are in this title race'. Arsenal lost to Liverpool remember. And Arsenal have still got to come to the Etihad. I think City are bang in this title race.
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