Manchester City defender Nathan Ake believes Arsenal remain favourites to win the Premier League title despite his side moving top of the table on Wednesday.
Reigning champions City defeated Arsenal 3-1 at Emirates Stadium to overtake their opponents at the summit for the first time since November.
Pep Guardiola's side trailed the Gunners by eight points less than a month ago, but a return to form – coinciding with a wobble from Arsenal – has seen that margin evaporate.
While City are top by virtue of a superior goal difference, Arsenal still have a game in hand and travel to the Etihad Stadium for another blockbuster fixture in April.
Asked if City are now favourites to finish above Arsenal, Ake said: "No. They still have a game in hand so they still have three points on us. We don't want to get carried away.
"We will keep doing what we are doing, go game by game and take it from there.
"We knew beforehand it was going to be a very big game and we just wanted to win the game and get the three points and we did."
City's victory was their 11th in a row against Arsenal in the league, with Guardiola having now won eight of his nine meetings with Mikel Arteta in all competitions.
Second-half goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland earned the win for City after Bukayo Saka's penalty had cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne's opener.
City's quality ultimately told as they look to add to the four titles won in the past five seasons, success that Ake feels will stand them in good stead.
"We know there is still a long way to go. They have a game in hand but for us it is good to come to a tough place like this and get the win – that is important," the Netherlands international said.
"It's small margins. It was so tight and both teams can create something out of nothing. We still have a long way to go but we do have that [title-winning] experience."
Havertz: Arsenal 'ready for the fight' in Premier League title race
Kai Havertz says Arsenal are "ready for the fight" as they aim to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The Gunners are in second place and nine points adrift of the Reds, who have only dropped five under Arne Slot after the opening 13 matches of this campaign.
Mikel Arteta's side will hope to reduce the deficit when they welcome Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, while Liverpool travel to St James' Park to face Newcastle United.
Arsenal have been runners-up to Manchester City in each of the last two Premier League seasons, and Havertz is confident they will be in contention once more this time around.
"It's still in the first part of the season and a lot can happen," he said. "For me personally, I think how much tougher the Premier League gets year by year.
"Liverpool, all of a sudden, are performing at the highest level week in, week out. I have to give credit to them, for sure. [There are] lots of games to play, points to get, so we will be ready for the fight.
"There are still a lot of things in the team that we can develop and be better at, and I'm sure the next couple of years are going to be great for us. I think everyone will be ready for it."
Arsenal are full of momentum, having won each of their last three matches across all competitions, while scoring 13 goals along the way.
The Gunners only managed 12 in their previous nine games, with Martin Odegaard missing seven of those, but Havertz believes he and his team-mates have enjoyed the benefits of the skipper's recent return from injury.
"For me, it's quite nice! He's just magic," the forward said. "He makes everything so calm and easy on the pitch, has the confidence to turn games around on his own.
"Even in bad moments, he takes the ball and does something with it. He never shies away. He's a very important player for us."
Tottenham must bolster attacking options in January, says Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou said that Tottenham must make signings during the transfer window to strengthen their attacking options.
Tottenham find themselves seventh in the Premier League after 13 games this season, but have been unable to find consistency with results thus far.
But their form has not been helped by injuries in the forward areas, with Richarlison and Wilson Odobert out of action until next year with respective hamstring issues.
Dominic Solanke, who missed Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Fulham on Sunday, is expected to feature against former side Bournemouth on Thursday, however.
Despite those injuries, Postecoglou's side top the scoring charts in the top-flight this term with 28 goals, but the Spurs boss said he is in need of attacking reinforcements.
"With Richy, it has been frustrating because I see the potential in him and, to be fair, when he’s been fit he’s always made an impact," Postecoglou said.
"That’s what you kind of hold on to, but there’s no doubt we need some bolstering in that front third over the next couple of transfer windows."
“Dom coming in has been great, but again we can’t overload him either, because ultimately, even if he stays fit and nothing happens, performance will invariably drop if his energy levels drop. So it’s something we’re aware of and need to plan for."
Cristian Romero is also unavailable for Thursday's game, adding to the absences of Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario and the suspended Rodrigo Bentancur.
Tottenham's squad is likely to be stretched once again during December, with eight games coming up this month.
Following their trip to Bournemouth, they take on Chelsea, Southampton, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Wolves in the Premier League.
In between those league games, they face Rangers in the Europa League as well as a quarter-final EFL Cup tie against Manchester United.
"It's a Thursday Sunday cycle for us pretty consistently," he added.
"Monday is recovery day for the lads and yesterday training with the guys who didn't play the majority of the game.
"They've all recovered well, no issues from [Fulham] and we're ready to go for a big game tomorrow."
But up first for Tottenham is a trip to the south coast against Andoni Iraola's in-form Bournemouth side, who beat Wolves 4-2 in their last Premier League encounter.
And Postecoglou will have confidence of returning to winning ways at the Vitality Stadium given their recent meetings with the Cherries.
Tottenham have won 10 of their 14 Premier League games against Bournemouth (D2 L2) – of the sides they’ve faced at least 10 times in the competition, only against Swansea (79%) do they have a higher win rate.
Along with that, each of their last five top-flight away wins have been to nil, including a 4-0 victory at reigning champions Manchester City last time out.
Spurs, however, haven’t won any of their last 14 when conceding on the road (D5 L9), since a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace in October 2023, and Postecoglou is expecting another difficult task away from home.
"A tough challenge, not just of late but from last year. They came here and were really aggressive with their football and especially at their place," Postecoglou concluded.
"They've beaten City and Arsenal at their place. They are one of those sides where they have real consistency in performance and approach, so you know that you're in for a battle. I'm really looking forward to it."
Guardiola dismisses talk of rift with Man City's De Bruyne
Pep Guardiola has played down talk of a rift between himself and Manchester City's midfield star Kevin De Bruyne.
The Belgian has endured another season in which he has suffered with injury, starting just four Premier League matches in 2024-25.
But since returning from an abdominal injury that kept him out for eight weeks, De Bruyne has played a combined total of just 72 minutes across five substitute appearances.
When he came off the bench at Anfield on Sunday, there were just 12 minutes remaining in the eventual 2-0 defeat by Liverpool.
After both Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville suggested that 'something isn't right' between the pair in the Sky Sports coverage of the match, Guardiola defended their relationship.
"People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin," he said. "Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? I don't want Kevin to play? The guy who has the most talent in the final third. I don’t want it? I have a personal problem with him after nine years together?
"He’s delivered to me the biggest success to this club. I'm desperate to have his best.
"But he's been five months injured and two months injured. He's 33 years old. He needs time to find his best."
De Bruyne had missed from August to January of the 2023-24 season following a recurrence of the hamstring injury that forced him off in the 2023 Champions League final against Inter Milan.
With his contract up for renewal at the end of the year, he has confirmed talks for a renewal have not yet begun as he focuses on getting fit.
"I'd love to have Kevin in his prime, at 26 or 27," said Guardiola. "He would love it too.
"But he is not 26 or 27 any more. He had injuries in the past, important and long ones, and he is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy.
"It's normal, it's nature. He played a lot of games for 10 or 11 seasons.
"I know he is desperate to help us. He gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have."
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