Manchester United narrowly top the Premier League on goal difference from Arsenal with Chelsea four points behind, and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger believes it is now a three-horse race for the Premiership crown.

He told Arsenal TV Online: "Most probably yes, but we have to keep an open mind.

"At the moment I feel it is too early to come to definite conclusions and the only thing you want is for your team to respond because it's a race where the consistency will be rewarded - and the strength of character.

"I know I have plenty in my team and that is why I don't want to calculate, I just want to look at how well we can respond in every game because I know that kind of consistency and stamina in performances will be determinant."

The top three all won their midweek fixtures but Liverpool's injury-time defeat to West Ham led Wenger to believe the Reds are no longer contenders after dropping to seventh, 17 points behind the top two.

"It looks like," Wenger continued. "If they win their game in hand they are 14 points behind and 10 behind Chelsea so it looks like three teams."