Antonio Conte has praised Arsenal’s balance and suggested only Manchester City can compete with them to win the Premier League title.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 01: Antonio Conte, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on October 01, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Antonio Conte, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on October 01, 2022. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Arsenal came away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 2-0 winners at the weekend, scoring twice in the first half before putting in a solid display at the back to maintain a clean sheet after the break.

Antonio Conte believes this is the sign of a Premier League title contender, a team that can take advantage when they’re on top but also show their solidity when the momentum turns against them.

As such, the Tottenham Hotspur boss told the media on Sunday that he believes Arsenal and Manchester City are now in a two-horse race to lift the trophy at the end of the campaign.

“They showed to have a great balance,” Conte said. “To eat in the right moments, and then to suffer also in the second half, because they suffered a lot and they showed their resilience.

“When a team is [able] to do this, it means that they are ready to fight to win the title.

“I think, with Manchester City, they are the only two teams that are going to fight for the Premier League this season.”

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) celebrates with Arsenal's English midfielder Bukayo Saka on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on January 15, 2023. - Arsenal won the game 2-0. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) celebrates with Arsenal’s English midfielder Bukayo Saka on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on January 15, 2023. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester United fans will probably feel a bit put out by Conte’s comments, given their run up the league to sit just one point behind City, having beaten Pep Guardiola’s side at the weekend.

But United have the chance to prove their title credentials against Arsenal themselves this weekend.

If they win, and they beat Crystal Palace on Wednesday, they could cut the gap to Arsenal to just three points – albeit having played a game more.

Alternatively, two defeats for United this week would leave them 12 points off the pace having played that extra game. So it’s really up to them to prove they deserve to be in the conversation.