Arsene Wenger insisted it was “too early” for any side to think about the Premier League title as Arsenal make their way back up the table.
Sunday’s 2-0 win over Brighton moved Arsenal level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea and just a point off third-placed Tottenham.
The two Manchester sides continue to be the early pacesetters, with City and United both earning six wins and a draw from their opening league games.
But Wenger warned it was too soon to assume the title was bound for the north west even as he hailed Pep Guardiola’s side, telling reporters: “It’s too early. Seven games played, 31 to go.
“Last year after six games Man City was top with 18 points. So let’s not go too quick to conclusions.
“They played outstanding [on Saturday] but it’s a long way to go.”
Though Arsenal may be six points off Guardiola and Jose Mourinho at the top of the Premier League table, they enter the season’s second international break with momentum on their side after three wins in six days.
It makes for a dramatic contrast with little over a month ago, when Arsenal endured a 4-0 hammering away to Liverpool, lost Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to their Anfield rivals and were dogged by speculation over Alexis Sanchez’s future.
“I knew that after the game at Liverpool everybody wrote us off,” Wenger said. “I knew that it depended on us how much we respond.
“Nothing is permanent. You’re not bad in a permanent way if you can do something about it. You’re not good in a permanent way if you don’t keep your urgency.
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“We responded in a united way and we could put some wins together and some good performances as well.”